The Data Harmonization Advisory Committee consists of members from the Public Health Systems & Services Research (PHSSR) community including: National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO), Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH), local, state and federal systems researchers and academic institutions.

The main goal of the Committee is to review the primary data survey instruments used by NACCHO, ASTHO and NALBOH to collect program activity data, governance and population data of local & state governing bodies of health throughout the nation. Data from these surveys provides the foundation for public health organization, delivery of services and funding of public health activities. Traditionally, the agencies listed above work independently of one another.  Collaboration of key leaders in the PHSSR field, will encourage these agencies to work together and create an internal consistency across the surveys and support the validity and reliability of survey instruments used to collect data.

The result of this collaboration will provide standardized definitions of common words and phrases used within each survey.  A clearer depiction of the organizational structure and population served by local and state-governing bodies will also become evident. Efforts of this group will contribute to the rebuilding of a solid public health system infrastructure.