FOREWORD In 2023, the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) conducted a data and informatics needs assessment that identified data visualization and communication as priority areas for environmental public health (EPH) workforce development. These findings align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Data Modernization Initiative, which supports stronger public health data systems and the workforce capacity to use them. In response, NEHA developed Modernizing Data Systems in Environmental Public Health: A Blueprint for Action, which addresses data systems, management, and interoperability. This data visualization guide complements that resource by showing how EPH professionals can turn data into clear, meaningful visual information—the subject of the chapters that follow. This guide is intended as a starting point that professionals can build on as their skills and needs evolve. Portions of this document were developed with assistance from ChatGPT (GPT-4, OpenAI, accessed August 2026) for editing, illustrative examples, and content development and refinement. All AI-assisted material was reviewed, verified, and revised by the authors for accuracy, clarity, and alignment with NEHA’s standards and mission. NEHA thanks the authors, contributors, reviewers, and partners who supported this resource. We hope it helps EPH professionals communicate data more effectively and provides a foundation for continued learning and skill development.
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