My practicum site is within the Health Statistics Section (HSS) of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The HSS promotes understanding and utilization of health status information through the collection, analysis, and dissemination of vital event and health survey data. The HSS is responsible for several key public health data sources in Colorado, including the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the Child Health Survey (CHS), the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), and vital statistics records (birth and death data).

My primary goal of the practicum is to gain an understanding of how vital statistics and health survey data are used in the state of Colorado to monitor health trends, identify groups at risk for health problems, prioritize health issues, develop programs and policies, and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies designed to promote health, particularly with respect to nutrition and physical activity. To meet this goal, I will attend agency meetings on the uses of these data sources in Colorado to address public health issues, as well as analyze the BRFSS and CHS data to examine the relationship of the food and physical activity environment (assessed by state-added question to the BRFSS and CHS in 2009) with health behaviors (physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages) and to the prevalence of overweight/obesity.

I look forward to sharing my experiences with you…

Lorri