Contact person: Deborah Holtzman, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Mail Stop K-30, Atlanta, GA 30341; phone (770) 488-5295; fax (770) 488-5974; email: dxh4@cdc.gov; homepage: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/nccdhome.htm.

This exhibit features two independent survey systems coordinated and supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The first is the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Established in 1984, this unique, state-based surveillance system gathers information on those health behaviors primarily related to the leading causes of death from chronic diseases. In each participating state, data are collected monthly through telephone interviews with a random sample of the adult population aged 18 years and older. The BRFSS provides data for many purposes including assessing risks for chronic diseases, identifying socio-demographic patterns and trends in health-related behaviors, designing and monitoring health interventions and services, addressing emerging health issues, and measuring progress toward achieving state and national health objectives.

The second system, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), was developed in 1990 to monitor priority health-risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and social problems among adolescents and young adults. The YRBSS consists of national, state, and local school-based surveys of representative samples of 9th through 12th grade students, a national household-based survey of 12- through 21-year olds, and a national mail survey of college students. Data from the YRBSS are being used to focus school health education teacher training and instructional programs, support comprehensive school health programs nationwide, and to monitor progress toward achieving community, state, and national health objectives.

Contact person: Angela Sharpe, Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics, 1429 Duke Street, Suite 402, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone (703) 836-0404; fax (703) 684-2037; email: spare@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu; homepage: http://members.aol.com/copafs/index.htm.

The Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics (COPAFS) is an independent organization established to act as an advocate for the development and dissemination of high-quality federal statistics. Through COPAFS, members have an opportunity to review and have an impact on issues including timeliness, quality, confidentiality, and relevance. One of the major goals is to make members of the federal statistical agencies aware of the needs of data users.

COPAFS identifies areas where improvements are needed in federal statistical programs and suggests strategies to bring about these improvements. (The American Sociological Association is an active member of COPAFS.)

Contact person: Stephanie J. Ventura, Reproductive Statistics Branch, Division of Vital Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, 6525 Belcrest Road, Room 820, Hyattsville, MD 20782; phone (301) 436-8954, ext. 131; fax (301) 436-7066; email: sjv1@cdc.gov; homepage: http://www.cdc.gov/nchswww

The National Center for Health Statistics collects and publishes information on a variety of demographic and health characteristics reported on the birth certificate for all births occurring in the United States. Demographic characteristics include age, race, Hispanic origin, education, birthplace, marital status, residence, live-birth order, sex, and month and day of birth. Health information includes month prenatal care began, number of prenatal visits, medical risk factors, tobacco use, alcohol use, obstetric procedures, attendant at birth, place of delivery, method of delivery, complications of labor and/or delivery, period of gestation, birthweight, Apgar score, abnormal conditions of the newborn, congenital anomalies, and plurality.