In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) convened a workgroup for a multi-year effort to facilitate the development and adoption of small-area life expectancy (LE) methods.

The Sub-County Assessment of Life Expectancy (SCALE) Project was initiated in September 2014 with representatives from six state and two local health departments. In Phase I, these jurisdictions assisted in identifying, testing, refining, and disseminating standardized methodologies for calculating LE at the sub-county level. Phase I resulted in a stakeholder-driven, easy-to-use guide for calculating life expectancy estimates at the sub-county level (see below for the Guide for Sub-County Assessment of Life Expectancy).

The project then moved into Phase II. Twenty additional state and local health departments were recruited to pilot test the developed guide and provide feedback. At the end of Phase II, the guide was updated to reflect pilot findings. 

Phase III of the SCALE Project focused on best practices for visualization of LE, communication and messaging regarding LE, and updating the guide based on state and local feedback. 

In December 2018, CSTE sunset the SCALE Project. However, there is still active work being done to assess life expectancy at the sub-county level. For those interested in learning more, please contact Kyra Parks. Click here to view other Cross Cutting Steering Committee activities.