UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Survey Research Center (SRC) was recently awarded a contract to become Pennsylvania’s sole collector of health-related data as part of a nationwide project.
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obtains data on the major modifiable risk factors that contribute to the leading causes of death each year from every state in the country.
According to Joshua G. Rosenberger, director of SRC and associate professor of biobehavioral health, the BRFSS surveys for Pennsylvania will now be collected by the SRC.
“We’ll be conducting over 300 telephone interviews a month with Pennsylvania citizens on health risk factors such as diabetes, cancer, arthritis, drugs and alcohol, tobacco and more," Rosenberger said. "The data is used to identify population groups that have elevated health risks and target them for prevention and risk reduction programs.”
The BRFSS data is the only statewide data system on population health and is used to monitor progress in national programs such as “Healthy People 2030” to meet health objectives. The surveys contain both core questions finalized by the CDC and state-added questions from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
“The project will have an enormous impact on the SRC as the BRFSS is a very large, prestigious survey collection project that began nearly 40 years ago,” Rosenberger said.
The SRC recently hired Project Manager Valerie Keppenne and Project Assistant Bayane Elhayboubi for the project. Additionally, the SRC is looking to hire part-time student phone center operators.
“It’s a win-win situation, as the newly created positions will provide students income and data collection experience while supporting SRC’s research needs for this project,” Rosenberger said.
The SRC is contracted with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to manage the project for one year beginning in January 2024. Assuming all parties are satisfied with progress of the project, the SRC will then enter a multi-year contract.
“We’re very excited to be able to participate in such high caliber data collection, it bodes well for the future of SRC and calls attention to the excellent work of both our managers Amanda Ferrara, Renee Koch, Tracy Scalla and our wonderful support staff,” Rosenberger said.
The SRC, part of the Social Science Research Institute, provides high quality survey research services to researchers, faculty, graduate students and administrative units at Penn State.