The Clatsop County Human Services Advisory Council spent much of its meeting participating in a consultant-led focus group to shape a data-capacity assessment funded by state opioid settlement dollars.

Angie Schertzinger of Heidi Berthoud Consulting, who identified herself as the community health project coordinator, opened the session and said the assessment will look at how Clatsop County Public Health and partner organizations collect, use and share data to make decisions and support programs. She told the group the work is funded "by state opioid settlement funds, through our alcohol and drug prevention program." (Angie Schertzinger)

Council members described a range of data uses. One participant said she tracks adverse childhood experiences and client symptoms to understand population needs; others said they use encounter data, community needs assessments and student health surveys to measure service utilization and unmet needs. "Sometimes it's really old school and, like, Excel versions," a provider said, describing practical limits in local data systems.

Speakers repeatedly raised concerns about accuracy, timeliness and equity. Amber and others cautioned that some surveys undercount marginalized groups and that data can be skewed by collection methods. Multiple members noted a lag in available data and asked how the assessment will address rapidly changing conditions such as Medicaid enrollment declines.

Several members urged the assessment team to prioritize hard-to-reach groups, including Spanish-speaking residents and seniors, and to consider where staffing turnover and administrative burden leave organizations with limited capacity for data work. Participants suggested training and consolidated resources — for example, a shared website or resource booklet — to improve access and use of data across agencies.

Angie and Heidi said they would record the focus group with participants' permission and use the input to develop priorities and recommendations. Angie told the council the findings "will help guide improvements to data capacity practices across Clatsop County and public health, and partners." (Angie Schertzinger)

The council thanked the consultants and asked that the assessment team circulate results and any drafts to the group for review.