Understanding Black & African American Participation in Health Survey

How to ensure Black and African American residents are well represented in a key health survey is the focus of a new CGR project. CGR was selected by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to conduct community focus groups exploring the beliefs and attitudes of Black and African American adults in Monroe County regarding government health surveys, specifically the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

The purpose of this initiative is to address a historical "data gap" caused by low response rates in these communities, which can mask significant health inequities and lead to the misallocation of vital public health funding. The BRFSS asks about a wide variety of health behaviors and topics and is broadly used to understand and address health problems.

By leveraging deep-seated local partnerships, CGR aims to gather direct insights from the target audience of Black and African American residents who are 18-54 through accessible, incentivized focus groups to ensure future public health data accurately reflects all communities. Contact Project Director Donna Harris, Ph.D., with questions or if you would like to participate in a focus group at dharris@cgr.org.

June 9, 2026 CGR Briefs Edition