In the first phase of a county-wide community assessment, initial data gathering should begin with which agency?

• A. County public health department.
• B. National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• C. State vital statistics bureau.
• D. U.S. Census Bureau.

Answer: (C)

In starting a county-wide community assessment, the first step is to pull in existing secondary data that reflect population health. The state vital statistics bureau is the best place to begin because it aggregates standardized health indicators—such as births, deaths, infant mortality, and leading causes of death—at the county level. This data provides a clear baseline of health outcomes, helps identify trends and disparities, and guides which areas to explore more deeply with primary data collection.

Demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau is valuable for context, but it doesn’t measure health outcomes directly. The county public health department can provide local insights and more current information, yet the vital statistics data offers authoritative health indicators at the appropriate geographic level to frame the assessment. The CDC provides broader state or national data, but county-level health indicators are most readily and accurately obtained through the state vital statistics bureau.