Session: Understanding the Relationship Between Neighborhoods and Health/Social Service Systems: Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Analysis (Society for Social Work and Research 20th Annual Conference - Grand Challenges for Social Work: Setting a Research Agenda for the Future)

A growing body of evidence highlights the potential influence that neighborhoods and communities can have on the health and well-being of individuals and families. Understanding the relationship between neighborhoods and our constituents’ health and well-being has helped to inform the planning and provision of health and social services, as well as other community-based resources. However, the relationship between neighborhoods, their residents, and health/social services is a complex and dynamic one. While a neighborhood can influence its residents, individuals can also affect conditions in their neighborhood. In addition, the positioning of health, social, or other community resources can influence a neighborhood and its residents, but in turn, residents can collectively voice their concerns and the types of services and resources most needed in their neighborhood. Geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial statistics provide a set of data management and analytical tools that allow social work researchers to apply a person-in-environment framework in understanding of the relationship between neighborhoods, their residents, and the provision of services.

The three papers presented in this symposium provide a sampling of how social work researchers are using GIS and/or spatial analysis to examine different aspects of this relationship. For the first paper, the authors utilized a mixed methods approach, including GIS mapping and analysis, to assess the individual and community needs of older adults in a region in Southwest Florida and worked with a coalition of local social service providers to identify ideal locations for neighborhood-based senior access centers. The second paper focuses on a study that utilized spatial analysis (spatial autocorrelation and spatial lag/error models) to assess how neighborhoods in Chicago, IL can impact both formal and informal neighborhood social organization (NSO), which includes organizational resources and participation (formal NSO) and collective efficacy (informal NSO). Finally, the third paper is based on a mixed methods study (combining GIS, quantitative surveys, and qualitative interviews), utilizing an activity spaces framework to explore the neighborhoods of older African Americans and Hispanics in Houston, TX and how health care services have been integrated into their daily lives.

Together, these three papers demonstrate the utility and versatility of GIS and spatial analysis in addressing a broad range of research questions related to neighborhoods. GIS can be used with both qualitative and quantitative data to improve our understanding of neighborhoods in order to inform interventions. GIS mapping of service provider locations can be used to assess community needs, measure neighborhood quality, and address inequalities in access to services, e.g. among minorities and older adults. The use of GIS and spatial analysis can also further our conceptualization of neighborhoods, beyond political or administrative boundaries (e.g. activity spaces). Each study will present the implications for social work research and practice in neighborhoods and communities.