Rhode Island Department of HealthState of Rhode Island
Department of Health
Rhode Island Department of HealthState of Rhode Island
Department of Health
Social vulnerability refers to the resilience of communities when confronted by external stresses on human health, stresses such as natural or human-caused disasters, or disease outbreaks. Reducing social vulnerability can decrease both human suffering and economic loss. more
To assess Rhode Island's progress towards advancing health equity, as part of Rhode Island's statewide health equity indicators.
| Measure | Index score that reflects the social vulnerability of communities |
| Data Source | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index (updated periodically, 2016 most recent), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) |
| Strata | Census tract |
| What this measure means | The measure for this determinant is the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index. This index ranks each census tract in Rhode Island on 15 social factors, including poverty, vehicle access, and population density. This measure can help identify communities that are likely to need support before, during, and after a hazardous event and help public health officials and local planners prepare for, and respond to, emergency events. The data for this indicator are available by census tract in an interactive map. |
