Chicago Asian Community Surveys


Local level health data is essential to reducing the disparities in care experienced by racial and ethnic minorities. The availability of racial and ethnic specific health data enables policy advisors, researchers, and service providers to develop appropriate agendas that most effectively and efficiently improve health outcomes, monitor progress in reducing disparities, and make justifications for targeted interventions. Despite Chicago's diverse population, local data sets that describe minority health are lacking, especially among the Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) population.

In an attempt to meet the Chicago APIA community's need for disaggregated, scientifically accepted, and local level health data, the Asian Health Coalition (AHC) implemented the Chicago Asian Community Surveys. The purpose of the survey was to gather local level data that would inform community efforts in improving health for three of Chicago's most vulnerable neighborhoods. The specific goals of the project are to:

  • Document the health status of three Chicago Asian communities using scientifically accepted methods;
  • Use the information to identify health needs in the communities and compare survey findings with other analogous local, state, and national health statistics;
  • Translate survey results into guided local programs and interventions, and bring greater resources to the communities for overall improved health.

The first phase of CACS began in the Chinese community with funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Retirement Research Foundation (RRF). Following its successful implementation, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago provided additional funding for replicating the study in the Cambodian and Vietnamese communities. The survey development and implementation began in June, 2006, and data collection was completed in February, 2008.

In partnership with the Sinai Urban Health Institute, Northwestern University, Rush University Medical Center, the Chinese American Service League, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, and the Cambodian Association of Illinois, the project intends to use collected data to identify major APIA health disparities and to develop empirically designed prevention programs.

The Chicago Asian Community Surveys is funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health, The Chicago Retirement Research Foundation, and Northwestern University Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute.

For more information regarding this project, please email the Project Coordinator.