Effective decision makers use data to guide them in setting and prioritizing goals, planning interventions, and evaluating progress. Good data and information are instrumental in crafting effective policies, identifying and assessing community needs, and getting a dynamic picture of the community.

The first North Dakota Legislative District Profiles, which were launched in September 2014, have proven successful especially during this legislative season. To continue to provide valuable information, North Dakota Compass and North Dakota KIDS COUNT teamed up again and updated the State Legislative District Profiles with the most recent data available. The profiles highlight population, household, social, and economic characteristics and have the goals to inform, educate, create awareness, and generate discussion around the main quality of life indicators and help users make the most informed decisions possible for their communities.

Other times, data and information can be put into action and actually save lives. Dr. Kathryn Gordon, a clinical psychologist in the NDSU's Department of Psychology, joins us in this month's Ask a Researcher column to talk about the importance of preventive research for identifying strategies that effectively combat the devastating consequences of suicide. "Simply put: suicide prevention research saves lives."