All levels of public health—from local to the national level—struggle to obtain timely, accurate and actionable information. To address this challenge, the CDC Foundation is supporting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Data Modernization Initiative (DMI)—a multi-year, billion-plus dollar effort to modernize core data and surveillance infrastructure across the federal and state public health landscape.

Public Health Data Partnerships

The Data Modernization Initiative Working Groups project will ensure Federal investments in DMI build on prior learning and successes and gather the valuable input of multisector partners. When we address how diverse—and often disconnected—data systems are, we can determine how they can work more efficiently together. The result will be better health and better decision-making in communities across the country.

Solutions to today's public health's information challenges must involve both those who will implement the solutions and those affected by the solutions. The Data Modernization Initiative Working Groups project is focused on facilitating public-private partnerships by engaging public health agencies, health care organizations, IT vendors and other organizations in discussions and planning to address public health information and data management challenges.

Past Workgroups

Since 2022, the CDC Foundation has guided the development of over 10 working groups engaging participants in a variety of platforms of discourse (e.g. listening sessions, summits, and workgroups) through in person and virtual opportunities. Past working group topics have included improving public health system interoperability, privacy-preserving record linkage, electronic health records and health informatics exchange. Working group events have been held virtually and in-person in locations across the United States.

In total, across all past working groups, the CDC Foundation has convened 3090 attendees representing 1060 partners and organizations. Partners have included local and state health departments, federal government agencies, international governments, non-profits, community-based organizations, academic institutions, national associations, healthcare organizations and private sector organizations.

To read more about some of the past working groups and view content, visit the Health Data and Innovation Series page.

This web page is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,915,915 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.