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Delta Health Initiative: Improving Health Outcomes in the Mississippi Delta

The Delta Health Alliance (DHA) receives funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration to administer the Delta Health Initiative (DHI), a collaboration among 27 partner projects to improve health outcomes in an 18-county region of the Mississippi Delta. Its goals are to (1) increase access to quality health care for residents of the Mississippi Delta region, (2) increase awareness and understanding of existing health care issues, (3) increase the number of health care personnel in the region, and (4) improve health outcomes of residents.

Mathematica conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the DHI that provided an overall assessment of efforts and progress toward goals. Specific components included (1) assessing program alignment with mission through data abstraction from grantee documents and key informant interviews, (2) developing a performance measurement system for the DHA and partner projects, and (3) providing training and technical assistance on data collection and program evaluation for the partner projects.

We conducted analyses based on secondary data sources (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, the U.S. Census, and the Area Resource File). In addition, we provided technical assistance on program design, implementation, and evaluation of various chronic disease initiatives—such as developing a medical home for uninsured and underinsured Delta residents and developing a comprehensive community-based initiative to prevent chronic disease and improve outcomes.