Lots of data: plus a bit of party planning
The distinct culture at DOHMH deserves
to be mentioned, which I haven’t really done yet. In my building alone, there
are thousands of people, spanning 22 stories. Walking through the halls,
elevators, and lunchroom, you can hear all kinds of languages spoken by people
from different cultures. It’s a great place to work because of this, and
because, in my experience, everyone’s attitude comes from a place of dedication,
hard work, and passion for the work being done.
My work has picked up and expanded
even more since my last update. In the last few weeks, my biggest points of
focus have been logging all of the missing HIV testing data for the New York
Knows project, and implementing a plan to collect it; updating HIV testing site
information for NYC’s 311 list; helping with an evaluation of DOHMH social
media outreach efforts; and planning a 200-person event to thank our HIV
testing partners in Brooklyn.
The New York Knows project collects
five data points pertaining to HIV testing for each quarter since the beginning
of the project (see my first post for specifics). For the Bronx, this was 2008;
for Brooklyn, it was 2010; and for the other three boroughs, it was this January.
What this translates to me is database maintenance. I’m pinpointing holes in
these data and collecting data to fill the holes.
Second on my list has been updating
the 311 list. Anybody in NYC can dial 311 from their cell phone and be
connected to a directory of city services. The NYC.gov webpage also has a
services locator for residents to get connected with services they need. The
New York Knows team provides HIV testing location information to 311 and the
NYC.gov services locator so that when a member of the public wants to know
where they can get an HIV test, these services can be resources for them. But
remember: this is NYC. Things are constantly changing, and people are
constantly moving. My team is currently calling each HIV testing location in
our database to verify/update their information so that we are providing
accurate information to the public.
To continue, this brings me to another
major task that’s picked up recently. Last year, DOHMH promoted free HIV
testing events that were occurring in NYC on five CDC-recognized HIV/AIDS
awareness days. The promotion occurred using a Tumblr post, which was linked from
ads on social networking sites like Grindr, Scruff, and Facebook.
Now we want to know if this worked.
We are using data from surveys that each testing site filled out on the days of
the events that reported how many people were tested, their demographics, and
how they heard about the testing event. This is my first time using SPSS on my
own – and outside of a class setting – so hurrah!
Lastly, I am planning a 200-person
event to celebrate our testing partners in Brooklyn. Between 2010 and 2014, our
partners in Brooklyn conducted hundreds of thousands of HIV tests. That’s a big
deal! We want to thank them and bring everybody together to meet each other.
