Live Well Humboldt has launched a data website that highlights health and economic disparities in Humboldt County. The dashboard went online Tuesday and brings together data from a variety of sources. While a focus of the dashboard is to help grant writers and other officials address pressing health concerns, the website also compiles for the public the issues Humboldt County is facing.
Ashley Gephart, a program coordinator for Public Health, said program planners, students or policymakers can use the dashboard to “understand both the great benefits of living in Humboldt County and also to highlight some opportunities for improvement and really to support our community to take data-driven action,” during a presentation on the dashboard at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.
The website shows how the health of Humboldt County residents compares with elsewhere; disparities include higher than state averages of death from opioid overdose, lung and bronchus cancer, people delayed or had difficulty obtaining care, death rates due to heart attack, those likely in serious psychological distress and suicidal thoughts.
Humboldt County sees higher than average rates of substantiated and child abuse allegations and has a high rate of adverse childhood experiences.
A news release from the Department of Health and Human Services says the dashboard was years in the making. Live Well Humboldt released a Community Health Improvement Plan earlier this year, aiming to improve suicide rates and substance use, housing issues and adverse childhood experiences. Public Health Director Sofia Pereira said at Tuesday’s meeting that Live Well Humboldt aims to improve health equity and includes 13 community partners.
The website includes data relating to economic disparities as well; 63.1% of renters were spending over 30% of their income on rent and a higher rate of people were living below the poverty level.
Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo said the data around income and poverty was staggering to her.
The website also shows racial disparities, including higher rates of poverty for all races other than white as compared to white people.
“The per capita income of self-identified white, non-Hispanic people is double what it is for almost every other group. Double. That’s shocking to me,” said Arroyo.
Lara Weiss, who works with DHHS, noted that they know that we need more than just numbers to understand the problems we want to solve, and said they look forward to adding qualitative data and personal stories.
According to a DHHS news release, Live Well Humboldt includes Humboldt County departments and divisions, local medical providers, tribal partners, cities, Cal Poly Humboldt and other government agencies. The release notes that the group will also work on the Community Health Assessment in 2024.
The website is www.livewellhumboldt.org.
Sage Alexander can be reached at 707-441-0504