Advancing Health Equity
A reflection tool for organizations, programs, and individuals committed to equity
This module will address key questions including:
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What is evidence-based public health and evidence-based decision-making?
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What is health equity?
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What is the link between health equity, health disparities/inequalities, and social determinants?
This module reviews the concepts of evidence-based decision-making and health equity and the relevance of doing evidence-based decision-making using a health equity lens in public health. The module provides local and national examples of public health working to address health equity.​
This module will concentrate on key questions including:
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Why establish evidence-based decision-making within an agency?
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Why establish a health equity commitment within an agency?
This module sets the stage by providing tips for agencies, teams, organizations or partnerships to develop health equity goals and institutionalize evidence-based decision-making within their agency. For many agencies, this module is an important first step before working with communities.​
This module will focus on key questions including:
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What is evidence-based decision-making in a community?
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How can you use a health equity approach when conducting community engagement or involving partnerships/coalitions?
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What are examples of evidence-based public health decision-making failing to adequately address health equity?
This module explores engaging community members and involving community partners in evidence-based decision-making using a health equity lens. This module explores how the involvement of community members and partners in decision-making is central to considering the health of all populations, building sustainable interventions, and improving community capacity.​
This module will address key questions including:
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What is a community health assessment?
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Why conduct a community health assessment?
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How do you conduct a community health assessment using a health equity lens?
This module describes the community health assessment process, including the different steps associated with doing an assessment. The module explores how using a health equity lens when conducting an assessment ensures that health issues and concerns of all populations in a community are understood and told.​
This module addresses key questions including:
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What is quantifying the issue using a health equity lens?
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Are there considerations when collecting data on community priorities?
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How do you use a health equity lens when conducting data analysis and interpretation?
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Are there important considerations when communicating data findings using a health equity lens?
This module describes the process of quantifying health problems or issues using a health equity lens. Specifically, the module explores how the involvement of community input and attention to the social determinants are vital to data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, and communication of findings.​
This module concentrates on the following key questions:
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What is scientific literature? Where do you find scientific literature?
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Why start searching with scientific literature using a health equity lens?
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How do you summarize findings from the scientific literature using a health equity lens?
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This module describes the use of scientific literature as essential to making evidence-based decisions in public health. The module also explains how searching for scientific literature (and alternative evidence) as well as summarizing findings using a health equity lens can assist in selecting interventions that fit the needs of impacted populations.​
This module will address key questions including:
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Why use a health equity lens when conducting prioritization?
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How can the health equity lens be used when determining who is involved in prioritization process?
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How are priorities determined using a health equity lens?
This module provides an overview of prioritization and reasons for using a health equity lens when ranking health issues or interventions. This module describes stakeholder input in prioritization as central to hearing different viewpoints as well as discusses the importance of thinking through how selected priorities may positively or negatively impact different populations.
This module will focus on key questions including:
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How do you develop an action plan using a health equity lens?
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How can you ensure the action plan is feasible and sustainable using a health equity lens?
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How to implement an action plan using a health equity lens?
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How do to ensure accountability in an action plan using a health equity lens?
This module explores developing and implementing an action plan using a health equity lens. This module reviews the importance of stakeholder involvement in the process and discusses how thoughtful planning, including action plan feasibility and accountability, can drive the selection of strategies to advance the achievement of health equity goals.​
This module will concentrate on key questions including:
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Why evaluate using a health equity lens?
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What are the types of stakeholders that should be involved in evaluation efforts using a health equity lens?
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How to plan for and develop an evaluation plan using a health equity lens?
This module addresses how conducting evaluation using a health equity lens can contribute to evidence-based decision-making by providing a comprehensive picture of the impact being made. This module also reviews types of evaluation, potential data that can be used in the process, and stakeholder involvement.​
