Vital Statistics Improvement
A Cooperative Agreement Between NAPHSIS and NCHS
The Vital Statistics Improvement (VSI) is a cooperative agreement between the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems (NAPHSIS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). This cooperative agreement is dedicated to strengthening the nation’s vital statistics infrastructure by supporting state and territorial vital records offices through training opportunities, collaboration, and guidance.
Strategic Focus Areas
1. Data Quality Enhancement
We promote and support jurisdictions in implementing effective methods to monitor and improve the quality of birth, death, and fetal death data. This includes guidance on data validation, completeness, and consistency to ensure that vital statistics are accurate and actionable.
2. Collaborative Workgroup Support
We actively support the work of the Joint NCHS/State Birth Data Quality Workgroup (BDQW), a collaborative forum that identifies and addresses challenges in birth data quality, shares best practices, and develops national guidance for improvement.
3. Workforce Development
We coordinate and facilitate the development of staff knowledge and competencies within jurisdictional vital statistics agencies. Our goal is to build a skilled workforce that can meet both current operational needs and future demands in data science, informatics, and public health surveillance.
4. Accreditation Support
We promote and support jurisdictions in pursuing Vital Records and Health Statistics Accreditation, helping them meet national standards for data quality, security, and operational excellence.
5. Technical Assistance
We provide tailored technical assistance to jurisdictions, including system modernization support, data quality improvement initiatives, and implementation of national standards and best practices.
Impact
Through the VSI Cooperative Agreement, NAPHSIS and NCHS are transforming the way vital statistics are collected, managed, and used—empowering public health leaders with the high-quality data they need to make informed decisions and improve population health outcomes.