HARC, Inc.

1) To evaluate and prioritize health needs within the Coachella Valley by conducting a triennial assessment that measures and identifies unmet health needs or gaps in health services. This will be accomplished by collecting quantitative and qualitative primary data; collecting secondary data, analyzing and synthesizing data; generating a comprehensive report; and disseminating the results throughout the Coachella Valley.

2) To promote Valley-wide support in planning for health improvement based on needs identified by the survey; encouraging hospitals to continue working with local stakeholders to plan for priority needs; encouraging political and government leaders to consider prioritized needs when making policy decisions and financial allocations; and by motivating local community and business constituencies to utilize the report when planning projects.

3) Institutionalization of the data review process and support for a regional data collection system and research center. This will allow HARC to gather, analyze and distribute health care statistical and related information on an ongoing basis that will support interventions that will improve the health of the community as well as to periodically review health status data to evaluate progress and/or improvements in the prioritized needs of the Valley.

4) Provide customized research and evaluation services that are designed to give client organizations the data they need to make smart business decisions.

1) Generate funds to cover the cost of the triennial assessment.

2) Develop a comprehensive marketing program to promulgate the availability of the HARC 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022 data generated from the health needs assessment.

3) Develop a comprehensive marketing program to promote the availability of HARC's customized research and evaluation services.

HARC has successfully conducted valley wide health surveys six times in the past: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022. HARC released data for the sixth survey, known as the 2022 Coachella Valley Community Health Survey, on 2/28/23. In previous years, the survey was done via telephone. This year, HARC is collecting data via paper surveys mailed to homes across the Valley. HARC has been able to make survey data available online at no charge in a searchable format. This allows anyone to access this critical resource, even organizations and individuals with tight budgets. HARC has also used the Community Health Survey data to provide executive and specialized reports to clearly and concisely summarize findings for community stakeholders. Additionally, HARC has conducted free trainings to ensure that community stakeholders are aware of the data and use search tools (HARCSearch) effectively.

This survey provides data that helps to describe our local community and the health needs here. By collecting the data every three years, HARC is able to track health changes over time.

HARC has been providing critical health data to the Coachella Valley community for over a decade: in 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022. This survey provides data that helps to describe our local community and the health needs here. By collecting the data every three years, HARC is able to track health changes over time.

Many local organizations rely on HARC’s data, including nonprofits, hospitals, clinics, the nine Cities, the County, our three school districts, universities, and more. The data is used to prioritize health needs and to design programs and services to meet health needs in the Valley. For example, Desert Regional Medical Center uses HARC’s data on the prevalence of major diseases to help recruit specialty physicians to the Valley, so that we have sufficient providers to treat our Valley’s needs relating to diabetes, arthritis, cancer, asthma, and many other illnesses.

HARC’s data is often used by nonprofits to support their requests for funding. Having reliable data available makes their asks much more competitive and allows local nonprofits to successfully secure funding for much-needed programs. HARC’s data has helped dozens of nonprofits bring in millions of dollars for Coachella Valley services over the years. For example:

DAP Health (formerly known as Desert AIDS Project) used HARC’s data on HIV testing to help inform their “Get Tested Coachella Valley” public health campaign, a three-year effort to increase HIV testing and connect those who test positive to care. Using HARC’s data in their funding requests helped to make their proposals strong; as a result, they received funds that allow them to provide free HIV testing to everyone.

Local senior centers, including Mizell and Joslyn Center, use HARC’s data on food insecurity among seniors to help strengthen their requests for funding. HARC’s data has helped them to document the need, and therefore bring in money to support their home-delivered meals for house-bound, low-income seniors, many of whom would otherwise go hungry.

Jewish Family Service of the Desert used HARC’s data on mental health to obtain funds for their counseling programs. With these funds, they are able to provide mental health counseling on a sliding scale for people of all ages, regardless of their insurance status.

Here is a short list of some of the nonprofits who rely on HARC’s data in their fundraising efforts. HARC’s data helps them to provide important services in the Coachella Valley.

ACT for Multiple Sclerosis
ABC Recovery Center, Inc.
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley
Braille Institute
Cancer Partners
Cathedral City Senior Center
Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP)
Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine (CVVIM)
DAP Health
Desert Cancer Foundation
Eisenhower Health
Friends of the Desert Mountains
Hidden Harvest
Jewish Family Service of the Desert
John F. Kennedy Memorial Foundation
Joslyn Center
Mizell Senior Center