title: Using a community-based health survey as a tool for informing local health policy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Speak to Your Health! community survey is a biennial community-based survey designed and implemented by the Prevention Research Center of Michigan whose central mission is to strengthen the capacity of the community to improve health.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was developed collaboratively by the university and community partners that comprise the Prevention Research Center of Michigan and focuses on health and social issues at the heart of the community of Genesee County, Michigan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this survey have been used to shape policy changes and strategic planning at the county health department and in local health intervention programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This project has demonstrated that useful quantitative data for addressing local public health policy and planning can be collected using the principles of community-based research.
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Center of Michigan, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. djk2012@gmail.com
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shirey
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morrel-Samuels
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skorcz
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brady
mesh_terms: D018672:Community Health Planning; D006291:Health Policy; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008824:Michigan; D011050:Policy Making