About DREAM Learning Community

At a glance

The Data Roadmap for Racial Equity Advancement in Maternal and Child Health Learning Community (DREAM-LC) is a CDC-funded initiative of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Teams from state public health agencies form multidisciplinary workgroups. Together, teams build internal capacity to address issues of racial equity.

How it works

Overview

The DREAM-LC supports state and territorial public health agencies to:

  • Build capacity in maternal and child health (MCH) programs and epidemiology.
  • Inform data strategies for promoting racial equity.
  • Apply equity concepts to MCH data.

The DREAM-LC is a CDC-funded initiative of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials1 . Teams from state or territorial health agencies form multidisciplinary workgroups. Together, teams build internal capacity to address issues of racial equity. Using tools adapted from the Racial Equity Data Road Map2, teams:

  • Learn how to examine data with a focus on the impact of racism.
  • Learn new tools and techniques for viewing data through an equity lens.
  • Build internal capacity for data disaggregation and analysis.
  • Contextualize data and examine factors resulting in racial disparities.
  • Identify how health messaging can perpetuate racism and inequities.
  • Implement steps to use data for informing equitable policies.

Why it matters

It is important to examine the role that data can have in perpetuating and failing to address health inequities. By conducting this examination and contextualizing the findings, organizations and their staff are better equipped to collect and use data to promote racial equity and improve health outcomes by race and ethnicity.

DREAM-LC accomplishments

During the adaptation of the Racial Equity Data Road Map to other states:

  • Five state teams participated in piloting the Data Road Map.
  • Ninety-nine state staff participated in the Racial Equity Institute training.
  • Two states developed policies to address racial equity.
  • Four states applied the principles of the Data Road Map to MCH programs.

What's ahead

The next DREAM-LC cohort will support state Title V programs as they conduct the 2025 Needs Assessment and prepare for the 2025-2030 Block Grant Cycle. DREAM-LC cohort teams will apply the Data Road Map principles to one of two newly required National Performance Measures (NPM). This novel application of the Racial Equity Data Road Map will enable states to:

  • Focus on a single required NPM.
  • Learn how to apply each of the Data Road Map steps to the NPM.
  • Examine data on the NPM.
  • Identify racial inequities associated with the NPM.
  • Develop strategies for working with communities to reduce inequities.
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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP); Division of Reproductive Health
  1. Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Supporting state and territorial health agencies | ASTHO. Accessed December 28, 2023.
  2. Massachusetts Department of Health. Racial Equity Data Road Map. Racial Equity Data Road Map | Mass.gov. Accessed December 28, 2023.