Drivers for Change – Use Data

Equity Framework > Drivers for Change > Using Data

Data helps highlight inequities in access and outcomes, raise awareness, provide a rationale for action, identify important starting points, and track the progress and results of activities.

There are many different ways to utilize data, including:

• Identifying priority groups, opportunities, and issues;
• Developing reports using disaggregated data that highlight inequities in program/resources access and outcomes across different populations in various issue areas;
• Providing community-level data and profiles that show opportunities and challenges, collecting and reporting data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, income, gender, neighborhood, etc;
• Working with community to identify indicators of interest and progress towards their goals;
• Making information available to communities so they can use it in their own efforts;
• Using qualitative methods and community-based participatory research to bring quantitative data to life, as well as to lift community voices and strengthen community relationships.

Data is a resource and has value, its collection and use is political. Data collection among First Nations has unique context, consequences, and principles. The First Nations principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP™) reflect commitments to use and share information in a way that brings benefit to the community while minimizing harm. OCAP™ allows a community to make decisions regarding why, how and by whom information is collected, used or shared.

Adapted from:

1. Racial Equity Tools – Data. Retrieved from
   https://www.racialequitytools.org/resources/fundamentals
2. HealthEquityGuide.org – Mobilize Data, Research, & Evaluation. Retrieved from
   https://healthequityguide.org/strategic-practices/mobilize-data-research-evaluation/
3. The First Nations Information Governance Centre. (2014). Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP™): The Path to First Nations Information Governance. Retrieved from
   https://achh.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/OCAP_FNIGC.pdf

Further Reading / Additional resources

From Data to Action. This page includes helpful information, tips, guiding questions and resources to make a difference with data.
https://raisingthevillage.ca/from-data-to-action/

The First Nations principles of OCAP® are a set of standards that establish how First Nations data should be collected, protected, used, or shared. They are the de facto standard for how to conduct research with First Nations.
https://fnigc.ca/ocap-training/

Sample Tools

Racial Equity Toolkit An Opportunity to Operationalize Equity
https://www.racialequityalliance.org/resources/racial-equity-toolkit-opportunity-operationalize-equity/

Raising the Village
https://raisingthevillage.ca/interactive-tools/

The diversitydata.org project identifies metropolitan area indicators of diversity, opportunity, quality of life and health for various racial and ethnic population groups.
http://diversitydata.org/

Making Data Talk: A Workbook
The ultimate goal of this workbook is to help select and communicate quantitative data in ways audiences can understand.
https://www.cancer.gov/publications/health-communication/making-data-talk.pdf

City for All Women Initiative, and M. Brooks. 2015. Advancing Equity and Inclusion: A Guide for Municipalities. Ottawa, ON: CAWI.
http://www.cawi-ivtf.org/sites/default/files/publications/advancing-equity-inclusion-web_0.pdf