Technical Assistance
Many of your questions may be answered in the FAQ section on the top of this page.
What is DC Health Matters?
DC Health Matters is a web portal designed to help community-based organizations, hospitals, researchers and the local health department measure community health, share best practices, identify new funding sources and drive improved community health. The site contains health information specific to the District of Columbia as well as information related to the social determinants of health such as Transportation, Education, and the Economy. DC Health Matters was developed by the Healthy Communities Institute and is managed by Children's National Medical Center.
DC Health Matters is used by several audiences, including community based organizations, researchers, medical practitioners, students, local hospitals, elected officials, the local health department and residents of the District of Columbia.
People use the site to learn about the health status of the DC community, to assist in grant writing and grant applications, to learn about funding opportunities, to learn about programs within the District of Columbia and to share information about community events.
This website was initially funded by a grant supported by the National Institutes of Health through the Clinical and Translational Science Award. Furthermore the work was carried out by Children's National Medical Center, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howared University, and Vanguard. DC Health Matters website is now being supported and managed by the District of Columbia Healthy Communities Collaborative which is a collaborative consisting of Bread for the City, Children's National Medical Center, Community of Hope, Howard University Hospital, Providence Hospital, Sibley Memorial Hospital, and Unity Health Care, Inc.
The data comes from a variety of state and national sources, including the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control, the American Community Survey and the District of Columbia Department of Health. Most of the data is reported on an annual basis. Each indicator page includes the source of the data and, if available, the URL of the source.
To add your organization's program to DC Health Matters, complete the Promising Practices Submission Form. The staff at Healthy Communities Institute will review your submission and decide if it meets HCI criteria for the database. If it meets HCI criteria, your program will be posted on the site.
Appropriate local initiatives include community-focused, health-related initiatives, such as health fair screenings for a certain health condition, new programs aimed at reducing a certain health condition, and information on community based groups or individuals that are doing exceptional work to improve overall community health. Please make sure to review the Guidelines for Submitting Promising Practices to ensure your program meets the criteria.