Indicators

Indicators measure the quality of life and sustainability of regions and communities. They generate conversations among different sectors, stimulate action, enable informed decision-making, act as a guide for investment and public policy, and measure progress. Good, reliable data, along with good illustration and communication strategies, provide the basis for progress. Data is used to inform us of our strengths and weaknesses, and representations of the data are used to tell a story in order to raise awareness, mobilize action, and work to “bend the trends.”

In its last indicators report, Charting the Course: Where is South Florida Heading?, the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions compared some of Florida’s largest regions on a small set of indicators. Since then, they have expanded their regional datasets and now include all regions of Florida as defined by Enterprise Florida. Regional Comparisons can be found at www.soflo.org.

Building on this work, the Florida Indicators Network developed a set of indicators that is descriptive of the State of Florida and each of its regions that can tell us which issues need attention, based on shared goals and priorities, and measure progress toward those goals. The purpose is to compare the state and each of its components to themselves over time and to each other if it serves to mobilize the region around a crucial issue.

The Network is focusing on the following issues:

Education
Economy
Environmental and Natural Resources
Housing
Transportation and Mobility
Social Equity
Health
Child Well-being
Elder Well-being
Public Safety
Civic Engagement
Disaster Preparedness and Vulnerability

Click here for the list of statewide common indicators. ( Requires Adobe Acrobat)