Community Health Equity Survey
Outer Cape Voices Matter: Help Shape a Healthier Community
What does it take to build a healthy, strong community?
Visit Mass.gov/HealthSurvey to take the survey today!
It is more than having access to a doctor or hospital. Health is connected to where we live, whether we can afford our homes, how we get around, whether we can access healthy food and reliable transportation and if we have the support we need when life gets difficult.
For people living on the Outer Cape, these connections are especially important. Our communities have their own strengths, challenges, resources and realities. The experiences of people living in Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet and Eastham may look very different from those of people living elsewhere in Massachusetts.
That is why Outer Cape Community Solutions is encouraging Outer Cape residents to take part in the 2026 Community Health Equity Survey (CHES).
Your Experience Matters
The Community Health Equity Survey, conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as part of the Community Health Equity Initiative (CHEI), gives Massachusetts residents an opportunity to share their experiences, needs, concerns and priorities around health and well-being.
The survey asks about topics including:
- Health and access to health care
- Mental health and well-being
- Housing
- Employment and financial circumstances
- Transportation
- Education
- Safety
- Substance use
- Community conditions and other factors that affect health
These issues are closely connected. Housing, transportation, employment, financial security, access to care and social connection can all affect a person’s health and quality of life.
Why Outer Cape Participation Matters
When we talk about community needs, it is important that the people who live in a community are represented in the information being used to understand that community.
Outer Cape residents know what it is like to find housing here, get around, access services, find work and navigate the challenges of living in a rural and seasonal community. Residents also know what makes the Outer Cape a strong, connected place to live.
The survey is designed to include communities and groups that have often been underrepresented in traditional health data. This includes youth, older adults, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, parents & caregivers and others who may experience barriers to health and well-being.
Any Massachusetts resident age 12 or older can take the survey! Every response matters. At least 30 responses are needed in a town for town-level data to appear in the DPH Data Dashboard.
How the Information Can Help
Taking a survey may seem like a small action, but our community level information can be useful in much larger ways.
CHEI data can help communities and organizations better understand health inequities, identify unmet needs, develop programs, support grant applications and advocate for policies and resources that reflect what residents are experiencing.
The 2026 survey builds on previous Community Health Equity Survey efforts and will help provide a current picture of health and well-being across Massachusetts. Results are expected to be available in 2027.
Your Responses Are Anonymous
The survey is voluntary and anonymous. It does not ask for identifying information such as your name, email address or home address. Questions can also be skipped!
The survey is available in multiple languages and translation assistance is available for people who need it.
It takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and is open through November 2026.
Help Make Sure Outer Cape Voices Are Heard
There is no single definition of what makes a community healthy.
For one person, it may mean finding an affordable home. For another, it may mean having access to health care, reliable transportation, mental health support or a job that allows them to remain in the community.
These experiences matter. Your experiences matter.
The people who live on the Outer Cape are the experts on their own lives and communities. By taking the Community Health Equity Survey, residents can help make sure that our needs are represented in the information used to understand health across Massachusetts.
If you are 12 or older and live in Massachusetts, we encourage you to take the Community Health Equity Survey and share your experience.
Your participation can help make sure that Outer Cape voices are part of the conversation about what our communities need to be healthy and thrive.
If you or someone you know would like to take the survey but does not have access to a computer, phone or internet, please reach out to Outer Cape Community Solutions. We can help connect you with a local organization that may be able to assist you in accessing the survey.
Your experience matters. Your community matters. And your voice belongs in the data.