Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions of general interest have been posed to date. If you have questions that aren't answered below, forward them to info@ctdatahaven.org.
Who created DataHaven?
DataHaven is a community project of a volunteer Board of Directors. The site was produced and is currently maintained by Holt, Wexler & Farnam, LLP, a New Haven-based consulting firm, and the United Way of Connecticut. DataHaven has been developed to date with funding and in-kind support of the United Way of Greater New Haven, the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, Yale University, Connecticut Voices for Children, the Regional Growth Partnership, Holt, Wexler & Farnam and the Connecticut Policy and Economic Council. Additional providers of funding and in-kind support for the early development of the Regional Data Cooperative that lead to DataHaven were the Caspar W. Graustein Memorial Fund, the New Haven Savings Bank Foundation, the Regional Water Authority, the City of New Haven, and the Corporation for National and Community Service (through SEEDCo).
How is DataHaven governed?
DataHaven is overseen by a Board of Directors. The site development is guided by a Development Team consisting of board members and the contractors retained to develop the site.
How do I get involved in Datahaven?
All users are encouraged to join in making DataHaven all that it can be. Participation can take many forms from participating in DataHaven listserv, to work on securing and preparing useful datasets from your work or the work of others for upload to the site, to participation in the Development Team. Contact us at info@ctdatahaven.org and let us know how you want to get involved.
How is DataHaven sustained?
DataHaven relies on investments from interested partners for its existence and continued development. The driving idea of DataHaven is that funders and others will be willing to invest in a project that (1) provides reliable data to assist funders, their grantees and the wider community in targeting public and philanthropic resources to the most pressing community needs and then (2) facilitates efforts to track progress in addressing those needs over time using objective measures. DataHaven also depends on the support of its community of users. Your suggestions for improvements to the site and your feedback on how it has been useful to you are critical to building the case for sustaining grant funding. Please forward your stories about how you have used data and how DataHaven has been of use to you.
What information is included in DataHaven?
The DataHaven includes a wide range of community indicators that are publicly available and in the judgment of the Development Team may be of interest to a significant constituency in the Greater New Haven area. This includes data on education, housing, health, civic participation and general demographics. For a complete list of the indicators, see our Indicator List
Where does the data come from originally?
Some of the data are from the US Census Bureau. DataHaven has extracted information specific to the communities in the Greater New Haven area and provide it in a format that is easier to use. Other data are from state, regional and local organizations that are part of the DataHaven network.
Who decides what data to include on DataHaven?
The DataHaven Development Team makes that decision based on based on their knowledge of available data and community interest. Anyone may suggest additional data sets to the team and they will be considered for inclusion based on anticipated level of interest in the data and available resources for data preparation and uploading.
How do I know the data is accurate?
The DataHaven Team makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the data presented on the site. However, we can make no assurance of complete accuracy (see Disclaimer). Users may want to go to the original source, which is accessible in most cases by clicking on the indicator name, to verify data about which they are particularly concerned.
How do I access US Census Data directly?
The U.S. Census provides a rich array of demographic and economic data. Only a small number of these indicators have been included in DataHaven as these are readily available at several national sites. Click here for a guide to accessing Census data.
How can I get training on using DataHaven?
Although we currently don't have any Training Courses scheduled, you can always contact us to schedule a presentation on DataHaven for your collaborative or organization. Call us at 203-772-2050 x13 or send us an email at info@ctdatahaven.org.
Can DataHaven do the work for me?
If you have questions about how to access the data please contact us. We do not have a large staff for creating reports but we may be able to provide some assistance. Contact us at:info@ctdatahaven.org.