Research and Learning

HYPER-LOCAL DATA ON HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the health, economic, and social status of residents in South St.
Pete, focusing on three zip codes: 33705, 33711, and 33712. Developed to inform strategic planning for the
Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, the report identifies key challenges and opportunities and emphasizes the importance of community engagement and systemic change to address health inequities.

The report is organized by providing the Key Takeaways upfront, followed by three sections addressing:

• The health, economic, and social status of South St. Pete residents.
• Effective strategies for creating healthy, resilient communities.
• Residents’ perceptions of their health and their community’s health.

Each of these sections is intended to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of factors influencing
health and wellbeing for residents of South St. Pete, using a mixture of numerical and descriptive data from a
variety of sources, including past reports commissioned by the Foundation. The report is intended to be action-oriented, with practical takeaways and summaries that can inform

PINELLAS COUNTY 2023

Black residents of Pinellas County have made record-setting progress in recent years, pacing ahead of their peers across Florida and the nation in education and employment gains. Black college enrollment is up, and 2023 brought us the smallest White-Black unemployment gap of the 21st century Yet, during the past decade, the most material gaps widened. The earnings gap between Black and White residents grew, as did the homeownership gap. Based on the limited data available, it appears the White-Black wealth gap grew, as well.

This report examines the gains, roadblocks, and gaps for Black Pinellas County residents, featuring 75 measures of economic well-being and capacity to analyze the economic landscape before us and offer ideas for what comes next. Click here to watch a video recording of the Foundation’s data walk and presentation of this report, which was drafted by Urban Market Analytics.

Community members discussing BIPOC Mental Health and Wellness at the Foundation in January.

PINELLAS COUNTY 2023

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities suffer the greatest disparities in all areas of health, including mental health, and its social determinants. Given the complexity of mental health, the barriers to receiving culturally competent care, and the growing demand for mental health services, the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg funded this research scan to inform our grantmaking strategy in this area.

This scan examines national, state, and local mental health and wellness data to understand trends in care, treatment-seeking behaviors, and outcomes; cultural practices within BIPOC populations relating to mental health; and the lived experiences of local BIPOC community members. Click here to watch a video recording of the Foundation’s presentation of the scan.

In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg and UNITE Pinellas launched a “COVID Tracker.” The dashboard helps visualize county data using a racial equity lens. By focusing on disaggregated data by race, and then calculating rates of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents, UNITE was able to get a better understanding of the effects of COVID on racial/ethnic groups. In turn, this helped equity professionals to advocate for additional resources, support, and campaign strategies to reach communities of color in a meaningful way.

Reducing inequity correlates with more stable economies, more capacity to rebound from economic downturns, growth in overall academic performance, increased life expectancy, reduced infant mortality, and increased civic participation. This report defines and launches an agenda for Pinellas County focused on an inclusive economy and justice that materially impacts the measures of equity.

PATHWAYS FOR POSTSECONDARY AND EMPLOYMENT READINESS

THE STATE OF POSTSECONDARY ACCESS AND ATTAINMENT IN PINELLAS COUNTY

The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg and Pinellas Education Foundation have formed a strategic partnership to advance equitable educational outcomes and boost education quality for all students in Pinellas County. The partnership launched with a series of research reports on key education topics, entitled Focus on Education. This is the first report, which explores the community indicators related to college and career readiness, access and affordability, college performance, workforce and economic outcomes, and degree attainment.

AN INITIAL SCAN & SURVEY OF PINELLAS COUNTY NONPROFITS

AN INITIAL HEALTH EQUITY BRIEF FOR OUR COMMUNITY

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HOUSING & HEALTH IN PINELLAS COUNTY