Michigan Prevention Data Atlas
Prevention at the Intersections
Prevention at the Intersections
Michigan Prevention Data Atlas
An interactive public health data tool mapping 16 neurologically and socially relevant indicators across all 83 Michigan counties — grounded in the Social Determinants of Health framework and designed for cross-sector planning, advocacy, and research.
How to Use This Tool — Step by Step
A walkthrough of all seven tabs
1
Choose an indicator from the left sidebar
16 indicators are grouped into 6 categories: Original Neuro-Equity, Child & Family, Environmental & Place, Justice-Involved Populations, Aging & Cognitive Health, and Community & Economic Infrastructure. The sidebar updates with the brain-health context and data source for whichever indicator is active.
2
County Map — explore geographic burden
The choropleth shades all 83 counties by burden level for the selected indicator. Hover any county for a pop-up showing all 16 values grouped by category, plus population and composite score. Click counties or use the chip strip to select up to 6 for comparison.
3
Compare Counties — side-by-side profiles
Selected counties appear as cards with all 16 indicators grouped by category, composite score, and state rank. Most useful for hospital service-area planning and multi-county advocacy arguments.
4
SDOH Framework — structural causes
Maps each indicator to the five Healthy People 2030 SDOH domains. Entry point for planners working within existing CHIP and Prevention Agenda structures.
5
County Profiles — full 16-indicator dashboard
Each county profile shows all indicators by category with bar charts and state rank, SDOH domain burden summary, composite score, and per-indicator data sources. Designed for CHNAs and local health department annual reports.
6
Heat Matrix — rapid prioritization
All 83 counties ranked by composite burden with color-coded cells across all 16 indicators. Configurable to top 20, 40, or all 83. Designed for board presentations and CHNA appendices.
7
Data & Citations — full APA documentation
All 28 references listed alphabetically with direct links to each source dataset. APA 7th edition. Required reading before citing this tool in any peer-reviewed or policy document.
Cross-Disciplinary Access Guide
How each audience engages the tool
□ Hospital Planners
- Build service-area profiles across all 16 indicators
- Use Heat Matrix for CHNA priority ranking
- County Profiles link directly to cited CHNA data
- Cite composite scores in equity plans and IRS Form 990 Schedule H
□ Public Health Officials
- Align 16 indicators with CHIP priorities
- SDOH tab connects to Healthy People 2030
- County Profiles support LHD annual reports
- Track co-occurring burden for multi-sector coalitions
□ Neuroscientists
- County Profiles provide 16-indicator baselines
- Composite score = proxy for cumulative neurological risk
- Heat Matrix identifies high-burden counties for study recruitment
- All indicator ranges and sources fully documented
□ Community Advocates
- County map shows geographic inequity at a glance
- ALICE data connects economic stress to brain health
- CPS and juvenile justice data grounds family impact arguments
- County profiles usable in funder presentations
□️ Policymakers
- Heat Matrix provides rapid triage across 16 indicators
- County Profiles frame cross-agency solutions with local data
- Environmental indicators connect to EPA and HUD policy levers
- All data fully citable — see Citations tab
□ Epidemiologists
- All 16 domains, ranges, and sources documented
- Composite methodology transparent and reproducible
- Environmental and justice indicators expand study design options
- ALICE threshold data links economic stress to health outcomes
Key Terms Glossary
Plain-language definitions for cross-disciplinary users
Neuro-EquityThe principle that fair distribution of neurological health outcomes requires addressing the social and structural conditions that shape brain development, mental health, and cognitive function across a lifespan.
SDOHSocial Determinants of Health. The non-medical conditions — housing, income, education, environment, access to care — that shape health outcomes. The framework used by MDHHS and Healthy People 2030.
ALICE ThresholdAsset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. A United Way measure of households earning above the federal poverty line but below the cost of basic needs. A more precise economic stress measure than poverty rate alone.
TBITraumatic Brain Injury. Physical damage to the brain from external force. In public health contexts, TBI rates track acquired neurological injury — disproportionate in rural counties, among unhoused populations, and in justice-involved individuals.
NOWSNeonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome. A condition in newborns exposed to opioids before birth. NOWS rates serve as a proxy for prenatal SUD exposure and early-life neurological risk at the county level.
Superfund SiteA federally designated site contaminated with hazardous substances. Proximity to Superfund or brownfield sites is associated with elevated neurological risk from heavy metals, solvents, and persistent organic pollutants.
CPS SubstantiationA formal finding by Child Protective Services that a report of child abuse or neglect is supported by sufficient evidence. Substantiation rates are used here as a county-level ACE amplifier and family stress indicator.
Composite ScoreA 0–100 index averaging each county's normalized rank across all 16 indicators. Used for triage and prioritization — not a clinical diagnostic tool.
CHNACommunity Health Needs Assessment. Required planning document for nonprofit hospitals and local health departments identifying community health priorities.
CHIPCommunity Health Improvement Plan. A multi-year action plan developed in response to CHNA findings, typically by a local health department in partnership with community stakeholders.
Modeled EstimateA county-level value derived by applying state and national survey data with small-area estimation methods. Not a direct census count. See Citations tab for methodology sources.
Compare Counties
Select up to 6 counties · all 16 indicators grouped by category · state rank shown per indicator
Social Determinants of Health Framework
All 16 indicators are organized within the SDOH framework used by MDHHS and aligned with Healthy People 2030. Each indicator captures a neurological or social consequence of structural inequity — making the brain-level and community-level impact of social harm visible to planners, advocates, and policymakers.
County Profiles
Full 16-indicator dashboard for each of Michigan's 83 counties — all categories, state rank, SDOH domain burden, and data sources.
Report Builder
Choose a county, select indicators, and generate a formatted PDF report with written analysis and citations
or generate a full state comparison
Data & Citations
All references listed alphabetically · APA 7th edition · direct links to each source dataset
□
Healthy People 2030 — SDOH Framework
The social determinants of health framework organizing all 16 indicators in this atlas is drawn directly from Healthy People 2030, developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The five SDOH domains — Economic Stability, Education Access & Quality, Health Care Access & Quality, Neighborhood & Built Environment, and Social & Community Context — structure the SDOH Framework tab and all county-level domain burden assessments.
Complete Reference List — Alphabetical by First Author or Organization
A
AARP Public Policy Institute. (2023). Social isolation among older adults: State and county estimates, Michigan 2022. AARP. aarp.org/ppi
Senior Isolation indicator
A
Alzheimer's Association. (2024). Alzheimer's disease facts and figures: Michigan state data 2024. Alzheimer's Association. alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures
Dementia Prevalence indicator
B
Barnes, L. L., & Bennett, D. A. (2014). Alzheimer's disease in African Americans: Risk factors and challenges for the future. Health Affairs, 33(4), 580–586. doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2013.1353
Dementia — equity dimension
B
Bureau of Justice Statistics & Michigan Department of Corrections. (2024). Juvenile and adult justice involvement rates: Michigan county estimates 2022. U.S. Department of Justice; State of Michigan. bjs.ojp.gov · michigan.gov/corrections
Juvenile Justice & Criminal Justice indicators
C
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). PLACES: Local data for better health — county-level model-based estimates, Michigan 2022 release. CDC. cdc.gov/places
Dementia Prevalence — county estimation methodology
C
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS): ACE module data, Michigan, 2021–2023. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. cdc.gov/brfss
ACE Rate — primary data source
C
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2024). Medicare claims data: Cognitive assessment billing codes by county, Michigan 2022. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. data.cms.gov
Medicare Cognitive Assessment indicator
F
Feeding America. (2024). Map the Meal Gap 2024: Food insecurity rates at the county level — Michigan. Feeding America. feedingamerica.org/research/map-the-meal-gap
Food Insecurity indicator
F
Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., Koss, M. P., & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245–258. doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00017-8
ACE Rate — foundational research
H
Hanna-Attisha, M., LaChance, J., Sadler, R. C., & Champney Schnepp, A. (2016). Elevated blood lead levels in children associated with the Flint drinking water crisis: A spatial analysis of risk and public health response. American Journal of Public Health, 106(2), 283–290. doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2015.303003
Lead Burden — Michigan-specific evidence
H
Health Resources & Services Administration. (2024). Mental health care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs): Michigan designations 2024. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/hpsa-find
MH Access Gap — county access data
I
Indian Health Service & Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. (2024). American Indian and Alaska Native population health indicators: Michigan tribal communities. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; State of Michigan. ihs.gov · michigan.gov/mdhhs
Tribal Communities indicator
K
Koob, G. F., & Volkow, N. D. (2016). Neurobiology of addiction: A neurocircuitry analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(8), 760–773. doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)00104-8
SUD Prevalence — neurobiological mechanism
L
Lanphear, B. P., Hornung, R., Khoury, J., Yolton, K., Baghurst, P., Bellinger, D. C., Canfield, R. L., Dietrich, K. N., Bornschein, R., Greene, T., Rothenberg, S. J., Needleman, H. L., Schnaas, L., Wasserman, G., Graziano, J., & Roberts, R. (2005). Low-level environmental lead exposure and children's intellectual function: An international pooled analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113(7), 894–899. doi.org/10.1289/ehp.7688
Lead Burden — neurobiological mechanism
L
Livingston, G., Huntley, J., Sommerlad, A., Ames, D., Ballard, C., Banerjee, S., Brayne, C., Burns, A., Cohen-Mansfield, J., Cooper, C., Costafreda, S. G., Dias, A., Fox, N., Gitlin, L. N., Howard, R., Kales, H. C., Kivimäki, M., Larson, E. B., Ogunniyi, A., … Mukadam, N. (2020). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet, 396(10248), 413–446. doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30367-6
Dementia — neurobiological mechanism
M
Mental Health America. (2024). The state of mental health in America 2024: Michigan rankings. Mental Health America. mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america
MH Access Gap — state ranking context
M
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). Michigan Health and Wellness Plan 2022–2026: Building a Michigan where everyone can achieve their best possible health. State of Michigan. michigan.gov/mdhhs
State planning framework
M
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). Michigan Essentials for Childhood: Adverse childhood experiences surveillance report 2022. State of Michigan. michigan.gov/mdhhs
ACE Rate — state surveillance
M
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. (2024). Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) surveillance: Michigan county data 2022–2023. State of Michigan. michigan.gov/mdhhs
NOWS Rate indicator
M
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. (2024). Traumatic brain injury surveillance: Michigan county-level hospitalization and ED data 2020–2023. State of Michigan. michigan.gov/mdhhs
TBI Rate indicator
M
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Administration. (2024). Michigan substance use disorder data dashboard 2023. State of Michigan. michigan.gov/mdhhs
SUD Prevalence — state surveillance
M
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Protective Services. (2024). CPS report and substantiation rates by county, 2022–2023. State of Michigan. michigan.gov/mdhhs
CPS Rate indicator
M
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Environmental Health. (2024). Michigan blood lead surveillance data: County-level reports 2019–2023. State of Michigan. michigan.gov/mdhhs
Lead Burden — primary data source
M
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records. (2024). Michigan infant mortality data by county, 2019–2023. State of Michigan. michigan.gov/mdhhs
Infant Mortality indicator
S
Shonkoff, J. P., Garner, A. S., the Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption, and Dependent Care, & Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. (2012). The lifelong effects of early childhood adversity and toxic stress. Pediatrics, 129(1), e232–e246. doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-2663
ACE Rate — neurobiological mechanism
S
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. samhsa.gov/data
MH Access Gap — primary data source
S
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH): State-level estimates for Michigan, 2020–2022. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. samhsa.gov/data/nsduh/state-reports
SUD Prevalence — primary data source
U
United Way of Michigan. (2024). ALICE report: Asset limited, income constrained, employed — Michigan county data 2022. United Way. unitedwayalice.org/michigan
ALICE Rate indicator
U
U.S. Census Bureau. (2023). American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2018–2022: Michigan county population and demographic characteristics. U.S. Department of Commerce. data.census.gov
Population denominators for all indicators
U
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2020). Healthy People 2030: Social determinants of health. health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health
SDOH framework — all indicator domains
U
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). ECHO: Enforcement and Compliance History Online — Superfund and brownfield site locations, Michigan. EPA. echo.epa.gov
EPA Toxic Sites indicator
V
Vigo, D., Thornicroft, G., & Atun, R. (2016). Estimating the true global burden of mental illness. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(2), 171–178. doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00505-2
MH Access Gap — neurobiological mechanism
About the Data in This Atlas
This atlas presents county-level estimates drawn from the sources listed above. Because Michigan does not publish all 16 indicators at the county level through a single administrative system, values for several indicators are derived through small-area estimation — a standard epidemiological method that applies state and national survey results to county-level demographic data to produce locally meaningful approximations. These estimates are consistent with published county-level analyses from the CDC, SAMHSA, and peer-reviewed public health literature, and they carry the same limitations: they reflect population averages, not individual-level data, and they should be interpreted as directional indicators of relative burden rather than precise clinical counts. Each indicator's methodology, domain range, and primary source are documented in the citations above. The atlas is intended for planning, prioritization, and advocacy purposes. It does not constitute a clinical assessment and should not be used to make determinations about individual counties without corroboration from local health department data.
Developed by Prevention at the Intersections · Michigan Prevention Data Atlas · 2026
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