Research Impact Story: When All Are Counted
This downloadable PDF was designed to share the impact and results of Think Kids’ community-led research project.
Think Kids*, a child health and well-being advocacy organization in West Virginia, in partnership with West Virginia University and a community-based advisory board conducted a study to understand how West Virginia collects and reports health data, who is left out or harmed in the current system, and what structural changes are needed to build a more inclusive surveillance system.
Across rural communities, Black/African American people, LGBTQIA+ residents, and people with disabilities reported logistical barriers alongside power imbalances, distrust, stigma, and feelings of powerlessness that deter care-seeking and distort the record. The work affirms that advancing health equity requires both individual empowerment and systemic change.
As a result, the research team has worked with local policymakers, community leaders, and health systems to inform workforce development, local planning, and advocacy for improved surveillance, access, and services in the state.
Learn more:
- Grantee Page: When All Are Counted: Closing the Health Surveillance Gap in West Virginia
- Blog: When All Are Counted
- AcademyHealth Grantee Reflections Interview
- Think Kids Preliminary Findings
- Think Kids White Paper
*Please note Think Kids ceased its operations in 2024