Within place-based, cross-sector collaboratives that are addressing complex social issues, using data from a variety of sectors and sources can create a deeper understanding of the drivers of a critical social issue and can inform strategic decision-making. In the Lehigh Valley, there are numerous sectors and many agencies serving the same community. We need to know if our collective efforts are making a difference. In order to measure this, we have to ask ourselves if we truly understand the issues the community is facing and are designing interventions that truly address the root causes.
The Lehigh Valley Hub is a tool that can help support leaders working toward community change with a focus on cross-sector data-driven collaboration. The intent is to encourage the sharing of data and the use data to effect change throughout the lifespan of an initiative. Strategic learning requires consistent questioning of assumptions, re-evaluation of data, and real-time changes to initiatives to ensure that a program is reaching its intended outcome. Our goal is to expand the capacity of community partners in the Lehigh Valley to make data-informed and data-driven decisions using population-level health indicators. Health indicators are the primary means used to assess and measure of overall health and wellness of our communities.
Focus Areas
Behavioral Health
Eradicating homelessness is critical to the overall health of our community. Click here to learn more about the drivers of homelessness: mental health, barriers to treatment, recidivism, law enforcement interventions, and emergency room visits
Housing and Health
The availability and quality of housing in the Lehigh Valley is one of the biggest issues we are seeing today. Click here to access data on affordable housing, learn how housing affects health, and explore the quality of housing in our area.
Neighborhood-Centered Collaboration and Data Sharing
Learn more about how we ensure that all stakeholders have access to reliable data, strategies, standards, and policies that serve inclusive, collaborative partners whose missions support the well-being of the region.
County Health Rankings
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Health Outcomes in Lehigh County
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Health Factors in Lehigh County
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Health Behaviors in Lehigh County
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Health Outcomes in Northampton County
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Health Factors in Northampton County
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Health Behaviors in Northampton County
Community Stories
What’s Happening in Lehigh Valley
Focus on Allentown: Areas for Further Exploration
Written by: Hasshan Batts, Samantha Shaak, Scott Hoke, & Hannah Clark Surveys can help us understand a lot about our community. From capturing community concerns about changes in our neighborhoods to identifying future opportunities, recent survey efforts by organizations across Allentown each tell us something about those who live, work, and play in Allentown are…
Focus on Allentown: Services & Amenities within the Neighborhoods
Written by: Hannah Clark, Hasshan Batts, Samantha Shaak, & Scott Hoke Surveys can help us understand a lot about our community. From capturing community concerns about changes in our neighborhoods to identifying future opportunities, recent survey efforts by organizations across Allentown each tell us something about those who live, work, and play in Allentown are…
Addressing Healthy Food Access through Partnerships in the Lehigh Valley
Written by: Em Thampoe (1), Samantha Shaak (2), Meagan Grega (3), Eric Ruth (3), and Carmen Guzman-McLaughlin (2) (1) Lehigh University; (2) Lehigh Valley Health Network Department of Community Health; (3) Kelly Foundation Food insecurity and access to food are a key social determinant of health, with a lack of access to healthy food leading…
Leading Health Indicators
Physically Unhealthy
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Lehigh County
Mentally Unhealthy
average days per month
Lehigh County
Physically Unhealthy
average days per month
Northampton County
Mentally Unhealthy
average days per month
Northampton County