ABSTRACT
Data included in a community statistical systems (CSSs) are a combination of US Census records, surveys, and administrative records. CSSs form an underlying basis for use in constructing indicators. The power of a CSS is its ability to utilize data collected from a variety of sources and, through GIS, display it on a map. The great potential of CSS is that multiple data sets can be developed with new technologies for organizing and communicating the information. The most successful CSS programs have drawn upon insight provided by multiple stakeholders who participated in the CSS development process. The use of CSS data and, in particular, geographic information systems maps can lead to policy changes as community advocates are empowered by presenting data to governmental entities. In order to deploy the power of the next generation of CSS, it is important to address issues of accessibility, interoperability, and confidentiality for community-level data.
