Casey Leier

HARC (Health Assessment and Research for Communities) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Palm Desert, California. Founded in 2006, HARC advances quality of life by helping community leaders use objective research and analysis to turn data into action. HARC’s expertise is in the social determinants of health. This is the concept that your health depends on where you live, work, learn, and play. HARC’s data services are designed to help organizations address the social determinants of health so that everyone in the community can live a happy, healthy life. HARC's flagship research project is the Coachella Valley Community Health Survey, a triennial population health survey conducted by random digit dial telephone interviewing. The results of this survey are provided back to the community free of charge for all to use. Data users include other nonprofits, healthcare agencies, school districts, higher education, and local government, among others. Hundreds of organizations use this free data to prioritize needs, design programs, and strengthen their funding requests. Nonprofits who use this data to support their funding requests have brought in millions of dollars to the region, which has allowed them to provide services such as meal delivery for home-bound seniors, mental health services for children, and HIV testing for all. HARC’s latest Coachella Valley survey is underway and results will be released to the public in early 2020. Beyond the triennial survey, HARC also provides research and evaluation consulting services to other organizations. These services provide an affordable way for nonprofits and other health & human services agencies to “outsource” their data needs, whether it be conducting a community needs assessment, a program evaluation, community engagement, or analyzing existing data. HARC makes data easy to understand and act on, allowing organizations to make evidence-based decisions that improve lives effectively and efficiently.