Name
Development and Implementation of a Community Well-Being Index for Data-Driven Assessment and Strategic Planning in Louisiana
Date & Time
Thursday, May 7, 2026, 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Description

The purpose of this study is to develop and deploy a comprehensive Community Well-Being Index (CWBI) built on seventeen indicators grouped across social, environmental, economic, infrastructural, and health domains of Louisiana. The goal is to construct a transparent, reproducible, and data-driven decision-support tool capable of identifying geographic disparities,  community risk exposures, and priority areas for strategic investment. The methodology uses high-resolution downscaling to the census-tract level and applies an adaptable indicator- weighting framework designed to reflect locally meaningful conditions. A GIS-based analytical platform integrates all datasets to support spatial analysis of cumulative burdens and resources. Interactive dashboards and community scorecards translate complex data into accessible outputs for non-technical stakeholders. The CWBI is currently being pilot-tested in Louisiana to evaluate its usability and refine its scoring framework.  Feedback gathered through iterative review processes will inform ongoing refinements to indicator selection, weighting structures, and practical application for local planning and investment decisions. Early findings indicate that the CWBI effectively differentiated levels of resilience and socio-environmental burden across communities, revealing clear spatial patterns of cascading risk conditions related to health outcomes, climate risk exposure, energy insecurity, and socioeconomic stressors. The index also highlighted areas where targeted investments could yield measurable improvements in community well-being and resilience. A monitoring and evaluation framework enables longitudinal tracking and supports transparent reporting of community benefit outcomes.

Location Name
Lower exhibit hall
Is presenter a student?
Yes