National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)

Public health departments assess the health needs of their communities in a variety of creative ways. In Pennsylvania, the PADivision of Health Statistics publishes a variety of reports gleaned from death, birth and termination of pregnancy reports. Many states also the national health surveys and databases from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Other data sources come from the PA Department of Health departments, the Pennsylvania State Data Center of Pennsylvania State University, and miscellaneous registries and/or surveys.

Local data can be found from planning commissions,hospitals, school districts, partnerships and community-based organizations.

Local public health departments can also conduct their own surveys or request data tapes for analysis from the state data center.