Mat-Su Health Foundation launches health stats dashboard

The Mat-Su Health Foundation announced the launch of Mat-Su Measures, an online dashboard that consolidates regionally-specific, health-related data from over 50 sources. The dashboard allows users to access critical community data through an easy-to-use platform. Mat-Su Measures also features data visualizations, creating engaging graphs, charts, and maps that help with data interpretation. The goal is to provide one place where community members, nonprofit organizations, policymakers, and others can access the data they need to inform decisions that shape the health and wellness of Valley residents. The online dashboard is free for anyone to use.

“We’re a data-driven organization by nature,” said Esther Pitts, MSHF President and CEO. “When we have sound data, we are able to identify, prioritize, and address current and evolving community needs, from increasing social services and supports to building brick and mortar resources that promote health, economic stability, and community wellbeing.”

The Foundation’s mission is to improve the health and wellness of all Alaskans living in the Mat-Su. A vital part of advancing this mission is collecting, analyzing, and strategizing based on local data that tells a story about the health of the Valley. That’s where MSHF’s Evaluation and Learning Department comes in.

“We’ve been developing this initiative since 2023,” said Danielle Reed, MSHF’s Director of Evaluation and Learning. “Health is so much more than a medical status or simply avoiding illness. Where we live, the resources we can access, and our economic conditions all affect our personal health. Mat-Su Measures is the culmination of our work to increase data access so we can make informed choices about how we advance health for our communities.”

Mat-Su Measures can be used for a variety of purposes, such as informing policy and advocacy, setting priorities, supplying information for grant applications, or learning where to allocate resources. Users can explore factors that influence overall health, like housing affordability, food security, and community safety, among others. The Foundation’s hope is that the dashboard will empower community members, leaders, and policymakers to learn more about the health of the local community.

The Foundation plans to offer dashboard training, with free and publicly available options in the near future. More information is available at www.healthymatsu.org/matsumeasures.