HI - Using GIS (Using GIS to Better Understand Maternal and Child Health in Hawaii)
State: HI

Skill Area: Data Analysis and Monitoring

Internship summary
The Children with Special Health Needs Branch (CSHNB) within the Family Health Services Division (FHSD) of the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH). CSHNB is responsible for several important data sets related to maternal and child health in Hawaii including the Birth Defects Registry, Newborn Metabolic and Hearing Screening, and works collaboratively with other departments within the DOH.

Purpose
Increase use of GIS software to inform decision and policy makers. CSHNB is seeking an intern to work on any of the following projects:
1. Geo-coding addresses from Newborn screening data (Linked file) to identify disparities in screening rates.
2.Identifying areas with high incidence of Children with special health needs with certain conditions (Birth Defects, various metabolic conditions etc.).
3.Identifying areas with children with hearing loss and lost to follow-up children.
4.Create Overlays of each birth location, including home births to help analyze trends and barriers.
5.Create overlays showing which Early Intervention programs, Public Health Nursing offices, audiologists, etc. serve the areas where these children are located to facilitate follow-up.

Goals
1. Evaluate Various Data Sets and Programs
2. Develop Products that incorporate GIS technology and programs to improve Maternal and Child Health (MCH) in Hawaii.
5. Learn about MCH activities conducted at a small PH agency
6. Increase skills in GIS analysis

Objectives
1. Expand knowledge of basic public health and health service practices
2. Apply public health training learned in the courses
3. Increase awareness of the complexity of public health problems and concerns
4. Increase appreciation of cultural differences in diverse population served by public health
5. Increase self-confidence as a professional in public health arena

Data or analytic tasks and activities involved
Ability to use GIS software
Critical thinking
Work with mentors to develop an appropriate and focused project

Required data or analytic skills
Experience with ARCGIS (mentoring will be available if the student is not proficient in the software)
Understanding of basic epidemiology and biostatistics

Begin date
06/21/10

Housing assistance available?
Can provide information on area, housing is expensive, but several colleges nearby