CPPR Brings Kansas County Data to Life with Innovative Mapping Tool

At the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships & Research (CPPR), we believe data is most powerful when communities can understand it and use it to take meaningful action. Our newest innovation makes complex substance use disorder (SUD) data accessible, actionable, and tailored for local planning. Through interactive mapping and detailed county profiles, community members can discover local vulnerabilities, protective factors, and opportunities for intervention—all in one place.

Each county profile highlights key risk and prevention factors, combined into a clear SUD Risks and Resilience Index that shows where challenges are greatest and where interventions can have the most impact. Insights Explorer, an ArcGIS mapping experience, adds another layer of insight, letting community members visualize data, compare themselves to others facing similar challenges, and learn from what’s working elsewhere. This insight encourages collaboration, shared strategies, and stronger partnerships across the state.

CPPR applied machine learning clustering to classify counties into five vulnerability levels, from very low to very high, and validated the results against actual overdose incidents. By focusing on social determinants of health—economic distress, housing instability, education gaps—our tools dig deeper into the root causes of substance use. These tools complement the recent statewide assessment that emphasizes healthcare access and public health infrastructure, offering communities a practical understanding of the factors driving local SUD risk. Reflecting the complexity of SUD, even counties with the same overall vulnerability level can face very different challenges. To illustrate, all three of the following counties have very high vulnerability levels according to the index:

• Sedgwick County spikes on overdose and STDs, signaling acute needs in both substance use and infectious disease.
• Saline County shows elevated homelessness and alcohol access paired with limited physical activity—conditions that may weaken protective factors.
• Wyandotte County trends high across nearly all indicators, particularly HIV, inactivity, and overdose, pointing to layered, systemic risk. 

That means solutions must vary too. Sedgwick may benefit most from expanded harm reduction and stronger preventive care infrastructure. Saline might require housing investment, alcohol zoning reform, or wellness programming. Wyandotte likely needs comprehensive, wraparound supports grounded in public health and community outreach.

Bringing together over 70 data sources, geospatial modeling, and visual storytelling, this tool transforms complex data into a resource that communities can understand, plan around, and act on. This CPPR innovation isn’t just a map; it’s a decision-making engine for local leaders to target resources, build partnerships, and make a real difference.

This tool was designed with one goal in mind: to make information understandable, actionable, and empowering. Explore the county profiles and Insights Explorer to see how your community can plan, collaborate, and take action with data like never before.