The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is inviting residents across the Commonwealth to participate in the 2026 Community Health Equity Survey (CHES), a statewide effort to better understand residents’ experiences, needs, and priorities.

The survey launched July 31 and will remain open through November 2026. Massachusetts residents ages 12 and older are encouraged to participate.

For Councils on Aging and community organizations, this is an important opportunity to encourage older adults and other community members to share their experiences and help shape the future of public health in Massachusetts.

Why This Survey Matters

The Community Health Equity Survey is part of DPH’s Community Health Equity Initiative (CHEI), which combines community engagement and data to better understand the factors that influence health and well-being.

This is the third statewide survey, building on surveys conducted in 2020 and 2023. Findings from those surveys have already been used to help inform investments, develop programs, deliver services, secure grant funding, and advocate for policies that improve community well-being.

More than 150 organizations across Massachusetts have accessed CHEI data to support their work.

The 2026 survey continues to explore the social and structural factors that influence health, including access to:

• Health care
• Housing
• Transportation
• Education
• Employment
• Community resources and services

The survey also includes new questions about residents’ immigration experiences and the mental health impacts of recent immigration policies and practices.

Older Adults Are an Important Voice

DPH is seeking responses from a broad range of Massachusetts residents, including communities that are often underrepresented in traditional health data.

That includes older adults age 60 and older, as well as:

• People with disabilities
• People of color
• LGBTQ+ residents
• Veterans
• Rural residents
• People whose primary language is not English
• People with immigration experience
• Parents and caregivers
• Youth and young adults

For older adults, sharing experiences around transportation, housing, health care, employment, social connection, accessibility, and other factors can help paint a clearer picture of what communities need.

Your experience matters. Your perspective can help inform what comes next.

The Survey Is Anonymous

The Community Health Equity Survey is voluntary and anonymous. It does not ask for identifying information, including immigration status, and responses cannot be connected back to individual residents.

The survey takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes to complete and is available in:

Arabic • American Sign Language (ASL) • Cape Verdean Creole • Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) • English • Haitian Creole • Khmer • Portuguese • Russian • Spanish • Vietnamese

How Councils on Aging Can Help

COAs and community partners can play an important role in making sure residents know about the survey and have an opportunity to participate.

Consider sharing the survey through your:

• Newsletter and email communications
• Social media channels
• Website
• Community bulletin boards
• Programs and classes
• Outreach to community partners
• Conversations with older adults and caregivers

DPH has created a variety of materials to make outreach easier, including customizable flyers, multilingual materials, rack cards, coloring sheets, stickers, and other resources.

Take the Survey

Massachusetts residents age 12 and older can participate in the 2026 Community Health Equity Survey.

The survey is open through November 2026.

Take the 2026 Community Health Equity Survey

Results and additional resources from the 2026 survey will be made available to the public beginning in 2027.

“The Community Health Equity Initiative offers residents across Massachusetts a real voice in shaping the public health priorities that affect their lives.”

— Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD, Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner

Community Outreach Resources

Want to help spread the word? DPH has developed resources that community organizations, including Councils on Aging, can use to promote the survey.

Main Website
Mass.gov/HealthSurvey

Downloadable Communications Materials
Community Health Equity Survey Promotion Toolkit

Direct Survey Link
Take the Survey

CHEI Outreach Community on Civic Roundtable
Join the online outreach community for weekly metrics, outreach events, and specific materials to help promote the survey.
Join the CHEI Outreach Community

Canva Templates for Customizable Flyers

• Multi-Photo Canva Template
• Single-Photo Canva Template

Order Outreach Materials 

Request outreach materials, including flyers, rack cards in all available languages, coloring sheets, crayons, and stickers.

Help Make Sure Every Voice Has a Chance to Be Heard

The health of our communities is shaped by much more than health care alone. Transportation, housing, social connection, economic security, accessibility, and many other factors can affect how people live and thrive.

By encouraging residents to participate, Councils on Aging can help ensure that the experiences and priorities of older adults are part of the data used to shape public health decisions across Massachusetts.