The Social Health Index
The Index of Social Health was originally designed by Mark Miringhof of Fordham University as a quantitative tool to measure social well-being in a community, and national measurements are released annually by the Institute for Innovation in Social Policy at Vassar College. Miringhof designated eighteen key social issues that covered the areas of health, mortality, inequality and access to services, which, when monitored over time can be used to gauge the social health of a community.
To compute the Social Health Index Rating for a particular area, the best year in the data set is scored at 100 and the worst year at 0 and all remaining years are rated proportionately on that scale. The result is a series of uniform measurements which can then be averaged and expressed as a percentage of overall Social Health in a community.
The Communities In Action Steering Committee chose Social Health Indicators for Richland County based on a number of criteria. First, the indicators, when taken together, had to be broadly reflective of all aspects of social health in Richland County. Second, the indicator had to lend itself to regular, reliable measurement, either by the RCHD or another agency, such as the US Census Bureau, the University of Montana, or the Montana Department of Health and Human Services. And finally, each indicator was chosen with the end goal of using it as a way to evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to implement the Richland County Strategic Plan.
Matrix of Social Health Indicators for Richland County
| Child (0-12) | Youth (13-17) | Adult (18-64) | Adult (18-64) con't. | Elderly 65+ | All Age Groups |
| Infant Fetal Mortality | High School Drop Out Rates | Drug and Alcohol-related Convictions | Rate of Health Screening Participation | Meals on Wheels Participation | Reports of Domestic Violence |
| Substantiated Child Abuse Reports | Youth Birth Rate | Rate of STD Infection | Unemployment Rate | Enrollment in Medicaid | Road Safety Ratings |
| Low Birth Weight Babies | Youth Binge Drinking | Per-Capita Income | Taxpayer Medicaid Bill | Affordable Housing Availability | |
| Participation in Pre-School Screening | Higher Education Attendance Rates | Participation in RSVP | Overall Crime Rates |
To learn about why these indicators were chosen, how they are being measured, and see the data and SHI Ratings for each, click on the age groups in the navigation bar at the top of the page. Under each graph you will find information that will help you understand it and find more information if you are interested. For each indicator, a "best case scenario" has been designated. This scenario may not be realistic or achievable, but it is used to define the SHI Rating scale; the year in the data set which has the closest result to this scenario has been given a 100 rating and the year that is farthest from it has been rated 0.
How this information is being used:
This information is being used by the Richland County Health Department and other county government agencies and non-profit organizations (such as Communities In Action) to track the success of various efforts to improve the overall quality of life in Richland County. In order to better understand how each indicator affects life in Richland County, it is important to have a sense of the age breakdown in the county. The graph below shows the percentage of people in each age group in the county for the past several years.
