title: Taking Neighborhood Health to Heart (TNH2H): building a community-based participatory data system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Healthy People 2020 calls for increased monitoring of local health and health disparities, but successful models of designing and implementing data collection systems for this purpose are lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We describe the process, methods, and outcomes of a community-based participatory research initiative, Taking Neighborhood Health to Heart, designed to collect and disseminate comprehensive health data from 5 diverse urban neighborhoods in Denver, Colorado.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since its beginning in 2006, this initiative has involved community members in collection of individual health surveys from 1,146 households; audits of sidewalks, buildings, and other built environment features in 412 neighborhood blocks; audits of availability, price, and quality of fresh produce in 69 local stores; and audits of conditions and amenities in 20 local parks. Community members and researchers share, interpret, and disseminate these data through a joint data review and dissemination committee.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Through our community-based data collection system, Taking Neighborhood Health to Heart has been able to collect, analyze, and disseminate locally relevant data on people and neighborhoods to monitor heath and health disparities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since 2006, the initiative has sustained its focus on community-based participatory research that targets collection and dissemination of local health data. We have used this information to identify salient health issues and advocate for neighborhood programs, policies, and environmental changes to built and social features of neighborhoods that have historically led to unequal opportunities and social disadvantage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado Denver, 1201 5th St, Suite 280J, PO Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217, USA. Debbi.Main@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Deborah S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Main
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ware
authors.forename: Patricia G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burry
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fedde
authors.forename: Leah M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Haverhals
mesh_terms: D003120:Colorado; D003256:Community Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors