Using Data to Improve Health and Social Service Provision in New York City

In partnership with the Center for Innovation through Data Intelligence (CIDI) of the New York City Mayor’s Office, the Capstone team created a place-based index of well-being in New York City’s neighborhoods. The use of an index, a composite measure of several key indicators, facilitates the synthesis of vast amounts of data from disparate disciplines to offer a holistic picture of quality of life and track differences between and among neighborhoods over time.

The Capstone team conducted an extensive literature review on well-being indices, developed a sound methodology based on the evidence, collected data, and produced an index of well-being for New York City. Statistical techniques were employed to modify the spatial units used in the various datasets to reach the desired common geographic level: the Neighborhood Tabulation Area (NTA). Correlation analysis ensured data validity and contributed to the elimination of weak variables.

Chosen indicators were grouped into six domains: Education, Health & Well-Being, Housing, Economic Security & Mobility, Core Infrastructure & Services, and Personal & Community Safety. The index incorporated data from various sources, with 45% of indicators coming from the American Community Survey, which averages data from the last five years; therefore the index approximates the well-being of New Yorkers between 2009 and 2013. Each chosen domain received equal weight in the composite index score. These scores were mapped using ArcGIS and outcome analyses were conducted at the city and borough levels.