B6.01 - Deep Dive: Transforming Rural Health Communication Through Interactive Mapping Tools

Brief Abstract Summary: Learn how a rural county health department transformed public health communication and engagement by integrating ArcGIS Dashboards, StoryMaps, and Survey123 into its practice. Attendees will discover how interactive dashboards made local health data transparent and accessible, while narrative StoryMaps—such as rabies awareness and maternal health projects—brought complex data to life for residents and stakeholders. The presentation also highlights how deploying the Community Health Needs Assessment through Survey123 resulted in record response rates and broader community representation. Participants will gain practical strategies to apply GIS technology in their own settings to improve equity, outreach, and data-driven decision making.

Detailed abstract description: Public health professionals in rural settings often face unique challenges in communicating complex health information to diverse audiences. Geographic isolation, digital divides, and limited traditional media outlets can make it difficult to ensure that residents, policymakers, and partner organizations have timely access to accurate data. This presentation demonstrates how one rural county health department addressed these barriers by integrating ESRI’s ArcGIS tools — Dashboards, StoryMaps, and Survey123 — into everyday practice to modernize communication, foster transparency, and strengthen engagement.

Attendees will learn how ArcGIS Dashboards were designed to make local data interactive and actionable. For example, the Otsego County Health Metrics Dashboard provides real-time visualizations on health trends, food access, and environmental health issues. Dashboards have helped decision makers and community members interpret data quickly and apply it to planning, advocacy, and policy discussions.

The presentation will also showcase StoryMaps as a narrative-driven approach to community education. Projects such as the Rabies Information & Statistics StoryMap and the WELCOME BABY! maternal health StoryMap combine maps, charts, text, and imagery to tell accessible stories about local health issues. These tools allow residents to see the connection between place and health outcomes, transforming raw data into engaging, easy-to-understand content that promotes community trust and awareness.

In addition, attendees will discover how Survey123 was used to distribute the county’s Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). By offering a mobile-first, map-enabled survey format, the health department achieved its highest CHNA response rate to date. This approach expanded participation among rural and underserved populations, ensuring that planning priorities were informed by a more representative sample of community voices.

The session will include practical guidance on:
-How to design dashboards and StoryMaps to highlight public health data in ways that are transparent, culturally relevant, and visually engaging.
-Lessons learned in building staff capacity, overcoming rural broadband and digital literacy challenges, and maintaining data quality.
-Strategies to increase survey participation using mobile tools that meet residents where they are.
-Key outcomes, including improved response rates, stronger stakeholder partnerships, and positive community feedback.

By the end of the session, participants will understand how GIS technology can be applied to health communication in both rural and urban contexts. They will leave with actionable strategies and replicable models to integrate dashboards, StoryMaps, and Survey123 into their own programs. This presentation will be especially valuable for public health professionals seeking innovative, cost-effective, and equity-focused approaches to data dissemination, community engagement, and program planning.