Introduction
If a picture is worth a thousand words - then a map is worth a million. Maps have the capability of blending science and art into a document that provides relevance and meaning to our existence. They facilitate our understanding of health and human service issues by summarizing complex data, visualizing information, and stimulating thought leading to new ideas and effective solutions. Maps bridge the gap in information sharing and the decision making process by reducing detail, complexity, and proportions to a simple visual representation that can be more easily understood by a variety of professionals and other interested individuals. A quality, customized map is a valuable asset that can strengthen your grant application. If you are planning to present a proposal or report on a health and/or human service issue, consider adding a map to your portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tools
American FactFinder
Database
A source of data/information on United States population, housing, economy and geography.
American Indian and Alaska Native Data and Links
Database
Provides statistical information and data on American Indian and Alaska Native populations, including population characteristics, economic data, American Community Surveys, and maps.
Center for Applied Research and Environmental Systems
Web site
Create customized maps to illustrate the "place-based" implications of issues
impacting rural America.
Community Issues Management
Web site
An interactive tool that includes a publicly accessible component for dynamic mapping and reporting with locally contributed data.
Disability Counts
Web site
Contains rural data for each U.S. county. Data topics include people with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living (CILs), metro & non-metro county maps, urban and urbanized area maps, congressional district maps, and disability statistics resources.
FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) Encyclopedia
Web site
Provides statistical information on traffic fatalities including vehicle type, people involved and geographic location.
Fedstats
Web site
High quality and full range of official statistical information available to the public from Federal Statistical Organizations.
Food Stamp Program Map Machine
Web site
An interactive mapping utility that illustrates the Food Stamp Program participation and benefit levels down to the county level. Includes tabular data for county, state or the nations.
Geodata.gov
Web site
A Geospatial One-Stop E-Gov initiative providing access to geospatial data and information.
Geography Network
Web site
The Geography Network is a global network of geographic information users that provides the infrastructure needed to support the sharing of geographic information among data providers, service providers, and users around the world. Many types of geographic content can be accessed including dynamic maps, downloadable data, and more advanced Web services.
HRSA Geospatial Data Warehouse
Web site
Reporting and mapping tools providing access to HRSA program information, related health resources, and demographic data for reporting on HRSA activities. The data includes grants, scholarship and loan programs, designation of underserved areas, and service demonstration programs and integrates these with data acquired from external sources. Includes "HRSA in My Neighborhood" feature which provides quick access to a summary of HRSA's activities on a particular address. Internet Explorer 6.x is required.
HUD GIS Tool for Communities
Web site
A free downloadable GIS tool with tutorial for communities that allows users to explore HUD
project data as well as design and print custom maps.
Profiles of America
Web site
Allows users to create maps, charts and tables using a variety of data sources from the USDA, U.S. Census, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and more. Rural indicators such as Rural-Urban Continuum Code can also be shown.
RAC Maps
Web site
Provides national maps on a variety of rural health and human services topics. Maps can be customized to focus on a specified state or county and to show additional labels, boundaries and data, for use in grant applications, reports and other publications.
Rural Indicators Map Machine
Database
Provides a visualization of indicators for rural areas available from ERS and other government agencies.
State Health Facts Online
Database
The latest state-level data on demographics, household income, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons. Includes statistics by state on medical malpractice and Medicare.
Maps & Map Collections
Atlas of Minnesota: Online Edition
Geographic coverage: Minnesota
Features updated maps and data on agriculture, people, economic vitality, income & poverty, housing, health, education, public safety, infrastructure, the environment, and civic engagement.
Location of Critical Access Hospitals
Geographic coverage: United States
U.S. map showing Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Updated quarterly.
Date: 2009
Map Archive: State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) Support Maps
Geographic coverage: United States
A series of maps of the most common rural health topics, available for download as "pdf" or "gif" files.
National Map of Federally Recognized Tribes and EPA Regions
Geographic coverage: United States
Shows Indian land as well as contacts for Regional Indian Program Managers and Coordinators.
Date: 2008
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Cartographic Archive
Geographic coverage: United States
Offers a list of maps in PDF that define rural and characterize Rural America. Thematic maps cover demographics, health status, critical access hospitals, rural hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and health workforce supply.
Date: 2009
RAC Maps
Interactive
Geographic coverage: United States
National maps on a variety of rural health and human services topics. Maps can be customized to focus on a specified state or county and to show additional labels, boundaries and data, for use in grant applications, reports and other publications.
Reliance on Independently Owned Pharmacies in Rural America: Individual State Maps
Geographic coverage: 50 Individual State Maps
State maps showing the locations of communities with only one pharmacy, independently owned. A related policy brief, Reliance
on Independently Owned Pharmacies in Rural America, is available.
Date: 2007
Rural Definitions: State-Level Maps
Geographic coverage: United States
A set of maps that display the nine rural definitions. These maps allow the user to compare the geographic coverage provided by different definitions for each State.
West Nile Virus Maps
Geographic coverage: United States
A compilation of maps along with statistics for each state regarding the number of West Nile Virus cases found in humans, the number of cases identified by veterinarians in animals, and the number of bird and mosquito infections.
Date: 2007
Regulations, Forms & Other Useful Documents
Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care
Sponsoring organization: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Dartmouth Atlas project is a funded research effort of the faculty of the Center for the Evaluative Clinical Sciences at Dartmouth Medical School. The Atlas project brings together researchers in diverse disciplines - including epidemiology, economics, and statistics - and focuses on the accurate description of how medical resources are distributed and used in the United States.
Nonmetro County Population Change, 2000-05: Half Grew, Half Declined
Author(s): Calvin L. Beale
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
Map illustrating changes in population for non-metro counties.
Journal citation: Amber Waves
Date: 05 / 2007
Putting Rural Services on the Map
Author(s): Thomas D. Rowley
Sponsoring organization: Rural Assistance Center
Discusses the benefits of maps, particularly visual data, and mapping technology. Includes information on RUPRI/CARES, GIS, and map projects that other states are undertaking.
Journal citation: Rural Monitor Volume 11 Issue 1
Date: 09 / 2004
Resource Roundup: RAC Maps: Interactive Research
Author(s): Aubrey Madler
Sponsoring organization: Rural Assistance Center
Describes the map tools available through the Rural Assistance Center's website.
Journal citation: Rural Monitor Issue Fall
Date: 11 / 2008
Organizations
Center for Applied Research and Environmental Systems (CARES)
Academic/Research
Addresses the spatial and temporal dimensions of issues impacting rural America, by incorporating Internet-based geographic information systems, remote sensing technologies, and other data visualization and analytic tools. One of CARES's primary roles is to support the needs of others wishing to utilize geographic information technologies. Part of the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI).
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Federal government
Works to improve and expand access to quality health care for all. Part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
National Center for Frontier Communities
National organization
Serves as a national clearinghouse, conducts research, and provides education on issues of importance to frontier communities.
National Consortium for Rural Geospatial Innovations (RGIS)
National organization
The National Consortium for Rural Geospatial Innovations (RGIS) assists state, tribal, regional and local governments, and non- and for-profit organizations in implementing advanced geospatial information technologies.
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center (Cecil G. Sheps Center)
Academic/Research
One of six Rural Health Research Centers funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy. Works to identify rural health problems through policy-relevant analyses, geographic and graphical presentation of data, and information dissemination. Focuses on rural hospitals and healthcare delivery organizations and access.
U.S. Census Bureau
Federal government
The U.S. Census Bureau provides statistics, data, surveys and other programs on the population, economics, education, foreign trade, housing, construction, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture and more of the United States.
Terms & Acronyms
Census Area A statistical entity that serves as the equivalent of a county in Alaska. Census areas are delineated cooperatively by the state of Alaska and the U.S. Census Bureau for the purpose of presenting census data for the portion of Alaska not within an organized borough, city and borough, or municipality.
Census Block A subdivision of a census tract, a block is the smallest geographic unit for which the Census Bureau tabulates 100-percent data. Many blocks correspond to individual city blocks bounded by streets, but blocks -- especially in rural areas - may include many square miles and may have some boundaries that are not streets. The Census Bureau established blocks covering the entire nation for the first time in 1990. Previous censuses back to 1940 had blocks established only for part of the nation. Over 8 million blocks are identified for Census 2000.
Central Place The core incorporated place(s) or a census designated place of an urban area, usually consisting of the most populous place(s) in the urban area plus additional places that qualify under Census Bureau criteria. If the central place is also defined as an extended place, only the portion of the central place contained within the urban area is recognized as the central place.
Clearinghouse Public or private entity that processes or facilitates the processing of nonstandard data elements of health information into standard data elements.
Data Factual information (as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation, often found in numerical form that can be digitally transmitted or processed.
Data Warehouse A centralized store of an organization's data resources implemented specifically for query, reporting, and analysis purposes including maps and GIS.
Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Geographic regions that have shortages of professionals working in primary medical care, dental or mental health care. HPSAs may be urban or rural areas, population groups or medical or other public facilities. Geographically, HPSAs can be cities or towns, counties or groups of counties. HPSA designations are reviewed and revised annually by the Secretary of Health and Human Services based on criteria set forth in the Public Health Service Act.
Health Professional Shortage Area - Mental Health (HPSA - Mental Health) HPSA designation for a shortage of mental healthcare professionals that requires three criteria are met. First, the area must be a rational area for delivery of mental healthcare services. Second, the ratio of population to existing providers must meet at least one of several criteria detailed in the Health Professional Shortage Area Mental Health Designation Criteria listed on the Bureau of Health Professions website. Also, the area under consideration must have mental health professionals in continuous (nearby/adjoining) areas that are over utilized, excessively distant or inaccessible.
Health Professional Shortage Area - Primary Care (HPSA - Primary Care) HPSA designation for a shortage of primary care health professionals that meets three requirements. First, the area must be a rational area for delivery of primary medical care services. Second, the ratio of population to existing providers must meet or exceed 3,500 people to every single provider or meet or exceed a ratio of 3,000 to 1 and have an unusually high level of need. Lastly, the area under consideration must have primary medical care professionals in continuous (nearby/adjoining) areas that are over utilized, excessively distant or inaccessible.
Health Professional Shortage Area - Dental Care (HPSA - Dental Care) The federal designation for a shortage of dental care health professionals that meets the following three criteria. First, the area must be a rational area for delivery of dental care services. Second, the ratio of population to existing providers must meet or exceed 5,000 people to every single provider or meet or exceed a ratio of 4,000 to 1 and have an unusually high level of need for dental services. Lastly, the area under consideration must have dental care professionals in continuous (nearby/adjoining) areas that are over utilized, excessively distant or inaccessible.
Map Legend A small table accompanying the map that explains the symbols that are used on the map. Sometimes called a map key.
Map Scale The relationship between distances on a map and the corresponding distances on the earth's surface expressed as a fraction, a ratio, or a bar.
Medically Underserved Area (MUA) Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) are federal designations derived from the Index of Medical Underservice (IMU). This index ranges from 0 to 100 and is based on four criteria: 1) ratio of primary medical care physicians per 1,000 people, 2) infant mortality rate, 3) percent of the population with incomes below the poverty level and 4) the percent of the population age 65 or older. An IMU of 62.0 or less qualifies an area to be designated a MUA. Geographic areas designated as MUAs can be a whole county or a group of contiguous (adjoining) counties, minor civil divisions (MCD), census county divisions (CCD) or census tracts.
Medically Underserved Population (MUP) A federal designation that is derived by using the Index of Medical Underservice (IMU). This index ranges from 0 to 100 and is based on four criteria: 1) ratio of primary medical care physicians per 1,000 people, 2) infant mortality rate, 3) percent of the population with incomes below the poverty level and 4) the percent of the population age 65 or older.
Metadata Information that addresses data characteristics such as names and definitions of data elements, where it comes from, how it is collected, and what transformations it goes through before being stored. Simply put, metadata is data about data.
Metropolitan Statistical Area or Metro Area A central, or core county, with one or more urbanized areas (see Urbanized Area), a population of at least 50,000 residents, and it may include outlying counties that are economically tied to the core counties as measured by work commuting. Outlying counties are included if 25 percent of workers living in the county commute to the central counties, or if 25 percent of the employment in the county consists of workers coming out from the central counties - the so-called "reverse" commuting pattern.
Micropolitan Statistical Area or Micro Area Any nonmetro county with an urban cluster of at least 10,000 persons or more, but less than 50,000 persons. It is further defined as the central county of a micro area. As with metro areas, outlying counties are included if commuting to the central county is 25 percent or higher, or if 25 percent of the employment in the outlying county is made up of commuters from the central county.
Population Density Total population or number of housing units within a geographic entity (for example, United States, state, county, place) divided by the land area of that entity measured in square kilometers or square miles. Density is expressed as both "people (or housing units) per square kilometer" and "people (or housing units) per square mile" of land area.
Primary Care Service Area (PCSA) A geographic unit used for the measurement of primary care resources, utilization, and associated outcomes. Identifies clusters of people receiving primary care within geographic boundaries, and represents market areas for primary care services.
Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCAs) A Census tract-based classification scheme (and a ZIP code-based alternative version) that utilizes the standard Census Bureau's urban area and place definition in combination with work commuting information to characterize all of the nation's Census tracts regarding their rural and urban status and functional relationships. Under the RUCA definition, types of rural and urban are defined by their city/town type and the portion of the populations that work commute from rural to urban areas.
Rural-Urban Continuum Codes A classification scheme that distinguishes metropolitan counties by the population size of their metro area, and nonmetropolitan counties by degree of urbanization and adjacency to a metro area or areas.
Urban All territory, population and housing units in urbanized areas and in places of more than 2,500 persons outside of urbanized areas. "Urban" classification cuts across other hierarchies and can be in metropolitan or non-metropolitan areas.
Urban Cluster (UC) A densely settled area that has a census population of 2,500 to 49,999. A UC generally consists of a geographic core of block groups or blocks that have a population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile, and adjacent block groups and blocks with at least 500 people per square mile. A UC consists of all or part of one or more incorporated places and/or census designated places; such a place(s) together with adjacent territory; or territory outside of any place.
Urban Influence Codes (UICs) A set of 12 county-level urban influence categories developed by the Economic Research Service based on population and commuting data from the 2000 Census of Population that captures some differences in economic opportunities.
Urbanized Areas (UA) An area consisting of a central place(s) and adjacent territory with a general population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile of land area that together have a minimum residential population of at least 50,000 people. The Census Bureau uses published criteria to determine the qualification and boundaries of UAs.
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) A statistical entity developed by the U.S. Census Bureau for tabulating summary statistics from Census 2000 to facilitate defining the land area covered by each ZIP Code.
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