The Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS) Study is an ongoing project that ISR undertakes on behalf of many Health Departments across Ontario. Modeled after a study first conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, RRFSS gathers trend data on key public health issues. These data assist participating Health Departments to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate public health programs and services.

For the third consecutive year, ISR will host the annual RRFSS workshop. This year’s conference, RRFSS Gets Results: the RRFSS in 2004, will focus on the analysis of RRFSS data and the dissemination of results by health units as well as external researchers. To be held on June 23, 2004, the workshop is open to all RRFSS partners and stakeholders with attendance by invitation only.

ISR has invited Dr. Ziya Gizlice, a representative from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to speak about “Experiences from the BRFSS in North Carolina”. Other guest speakers and their topics are as follow. Eric Holowaty from Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) will talk about CCO’s goals and the role of RRFSS. Will Ng and Erin Kennedy from Toronto Public Health will speak about the Child Development Module Project. Yvonne Gray, Central East Health Information Partnership (CEHIP), will address the topic “Falls in Seniors and RRFSS”. ISR Associate Director David Northrup will talk about RRFSS response rates. For the strategic planning session, Marc Hamel from Statistics Canada will talk about the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and its core module strategic planning.

RRFSS representatives Ruth Sanderson from the Middlesex-London Health Unit and Hong Ge from Simcoe County District Public Health will present dissemination materials and results used by the health units to help support their programs and services.