The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research’s Data Equity Center (DEC) has received an $800,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to continue supporting the DEC’s work helping ensure that communities are visible in population data.

The grant will support work, led by DEC Director AJ Scheitler, to create a cohort of seven projects involving state or local government data from applicants across the United States. The Data Equity Center will provide hands-on technical assistance, facilitate shared learning opportunities, and capture case studies to share with others seeking to improve the representation in their data sets.

“We at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research have known that high-quality, representative data is more than just information, it’s knowledge that can create healthier communities,” said Ninez A. Ponce, director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and principal investigator of the DEC. “It’s wonderful to receive the further support from RWJF for our work helping others advance data equity.”

Since its launch in late 2023, the DEC has worked directly with two dozen groups, including county and state health departments, health care providers, and researchers to help improve their capabilities in community engagement in data projects, as well as collection, processing, and dissemination of high-quality representative data. The DEC has also produced and shared training videos to help others learn how to promote and incorporate data equity into their work.

Additionally, the team facilitated a convening bringing together data leaders in the health care industry to discuss future changes and challenges to patient data. Finally, through two in-person meetings, the DEC boosted a learning community among 25 state data leaders advancing policy and practice for data equity at state and local levels.

A key focus of the DEC’s work has been helping disaggregate data for smaller racial and ethnic groups, people of different sexual orientations and gender identities, and those with disability status.

The three-year funding continues support of the DEC’s work to help state and local governments across the United States build more equitable data systems through the development of a learning community, gatherings, and hands-on consultation. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was an initial supporter of the DEC.

Support for the Data Equity Center was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.