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

18th

OF 67 COUNTIES

Health Outcomes in Lehigh County

27th

OF 67 COUNTIES

Health Factors in Lehigh County

20th

OF 67 COUNTIES

Health Behaviors in Lehigh County

11th

OF 67 COUNTIES

Health Outcomes in Northampton County

18th

OF 67 COUNTIES

Health Factors in Northampton County

12th

OF 67 COUNTIES

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…


Leading Health Indicators

Physically Unhealthy

3.5

average days per month
Lehigh County

Mentally Unhealthy

3.4

average days per month
Lehigh County

Physically Unhealthy

3.6

average days per month
Northampton County

Mentally Unhealthy

3.9

average days per month
Northampton County


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