Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH)

As part of its multi-sector data and information system focus, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation launched Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH). DASH aims to identify barriers, opportunities, promising practices and indicators of progress for multi-sector collaborations to connect information systems and share data for community health improvement. The DASH National Program Office (NPO), led by the Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI) in partnership with the Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI) and with support from the Foundation, is responsible for leading DASH. Connected information systems and access to integrated data from different sectors can improve communities’ capacity to plan, monitor, innovate, and respond for health improvement. DASH works to develop strong cooperation and connections between public health, health care, human services, and other sectors that contribute to building a Culture of Health that will enable all Americans to live longer, healthier and more productive lives. DASH will support collaborations that seek to improve the health of their communities, promote health equity and contribute to a Culture of Health by strengthening information sharing, engaging additional sectors and building sustainable capacity. DASH aims to create a body of knowledge and advance this emerging field by identifying and sharing opportunities, barriers, lessons learned, promising practices and indicators of progress for sharing data and information across and beyond traditional health sectors.