Massachusetts Tracking Program
Website: https://matracking.ehs.state.ma.us/index.htmlexternal icon
Email: DPH-MA-EPHT@state.ma.us
Monthly newsletter subscription: subscribe-dph-ept-newsletter@listserv.state.ma.us
Mission:
The Massachusetts (MA) Tracking Program’s mission is to provide access to up-to-date health and environmental data and visualization tools for improved public health.
Quick Stats:
Massachusetts has 351 cities and towns, varying widely in population and demographic characteristics, each with their own unique history and “town meeting” governments. As such, public health is municipally organized, so local data are critical to public health planning. To meet stakeholder’s needs, MA Tracking makes data available at the city/town and census tract levels whenever possible.
Milestones:
Important events and achievements of the tracking program
- Timelineicon
2002
Massachusetts Tracking Program established with CDC funding
- Timelineicon
2008
Launched early version of the MA Tracking siteexternal icon with all required data
- Timelineicon
2014
Enhanced MA Tracking site design for on-the-fly queries and interactive mapping
- Timelineicon
2016
Developed community profileexternal icon
- Timelineicon
2017
Released mobile-friendly MA Tracking siteexternal icon
Unique Data:
In addition to the set of standard data collected and displayed by all state and local tracking programs, individual programs may host data that are important to their populations. MA Tracking offers datasets owned by the Massachusetts Bureau of Environmental Health, many of which are available at the sub-county level. Unique datasets include the following.
- Population-Based Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Registryexternal icon
- School-based Pediatric Asthmaexternal icon and Diabetesexternal icon
- Food Processing Facilities Inspectionsexternal icon
- Indoor Air Quality Assessmentsexternal icon
- Home lead inspection databaseexternal icon
- Recreational Beach Water Quality Dataexternal icon
Massachusetts is also a state with universal blood lead screening for children, resulting in one of the most comprehensive childhood lead databasesexternal icon in the country.
Accomplishments:
MA Tracking engages stakeholders and regularly participates in broad-reaching projects that leverage the program’s data and technological infrastructure.
- The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs used MA Tracking data to update Environmental Justice (EJ) Policyexternal icon, a resource for identifying at-risk “Vulnerable Health EJ Populations.”
- A study on childhood blood lead and Superfund sitesexternal icon conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency utilized MA Tracking childhood lead poisoning data. Findings showed that Superfund cleanup activities result in a significant reduction in childhood blood lead levels.
- MA Tracking provided the technological platform for the state health department’s new public data access and communication tool called Public Health Information Tool (PHIT). external iconPHIT will provide data that can inform public health interventions targeting upstream social drivers of inequality, like neighborhood characteristics.
Local Services:
MA Tracking offers resources for health professionals who serve residents.
- Local data: Access local health data and Community Profilesexternal icon with summaries of city/town-specific environmental health information
- Training: Visit our tutorialsexternal icon pages for step-by-step instructions on how to use the MA Tracking website and tools; Email MA Tracking to ask about in person training events
- Reports for physicians: View annual childhood lead screening progress reportsexternal icon for physicians that provide city/town-specific lead screening and exposure prevention information