Advancing Health Equity
A reflection tool for organizations, programs, and individuals committed to equity
The next section provides an overview of using a health equity lens throughout the community health assessment phase.
The next module is Conducting Community Assessments for Health Equity
Evidence based decision making in communities includes multiple steps and should build upon on the current strengths and capacities of communities. The process most often begins with a true community assessment that takes into account multiple data sets that describe the community from many angles. This assessment is the first “evidence” in evidence based decision making.
Community engagement and partnerships use and build skills and talents of community members and partners to make real changes in community health and well-being. Community engagement and partnerships offer opportunities to hear the voices of people most directly affected by health inequities. The focus of the key questions in this module is to help drive community engagement and partnerships in a direction that sustains health equity efforts.
Engaging Community Partners
Policies & Processes
Designing Inclusive Processes
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How can we design more inclusive decision making processes to actively reduce the marginalization of specific racial and socioeconomic groups in decision-making? How can we allocate time and funds, and build capacity to facilitate the meaningful participation of communities experiencing health inequities in department decision-making?
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How does our organization engage in community planning decision-making and evaluation? 6
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How are we building relationships with/working with community organizing groups? Can we hire community organizers at your agency to work with the community?
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What policies, processes, and social relationships meaningfully and intentionally include communities most affected by inequities? 6
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What policies, processes and social relationships contribute to the exclusion of communities most affected by inequities? Are we informing, consulting, involving, collaborating, or empowering? 6
Core Questions
Community Engagement for Health Equity
-- Anthony Iton, We Are Public Health Project
​“This work is really big and can sometimes feel overwhelming. I think it’s important to break it down and figure out where to start. The truth of the matter is that there are multiple entry points into this work depending on where your health department is and where the communities are.”
Learn more about Community Engagement for Health Equity