WHAT: Webinar and Discussion on Health Equity and Public Health Practice

WHEN: Thursday, January 8, 2015

WHERE:

WEBINAR PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN: Why public health should focus on the underlying social inequalities that create health inequities; The importance of creating an organizational culture that supports confronting those underlying causes; Approaches to working with communities to integrate social equity issues into public health; and

Strategies for engaging agencies and organizations outside of the traditional public health sector in this work.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to

1. Describe the difference between underlying social inequalities as root causes of health inequities and

consequences of social inequalities. 2. Apply the seven elements of health equity practice described in ‘Expanding The Boundaries’ in

analyzing the activities, programs and strategy of the agency.

AGENDA

X:15 - X:30 x.m. Welcome, Intro, Distribute free hard copies of NACCHO Booklet Expanding the Boundaries: Health Equity and Public Health Practice

X:30 – X:00 x.m. View Webinar X:00 – X:30 p.m. 7 Elements of Health Equity Practice: Individual Reflection (Worksheet) and Discussion

Individual Worksheet and Group Discussion INSTRUCTIONS

1. Individual Reflection Exercise--WORKSHEET (10 Minutes): First, consider how the webinar you just watched described the 7 Elements of Health Equity Practice (you

can refer to the detailed description of the seven Elements of Health Equity Practice in pp. 40-48). What

are practice examples of the Elements described in the Webinar and the book? Second, think of the work activities and practices of [name of LHD or SHD]. In your opinion, how do the practices that [name of LHD or SHD] carries out or engages in correspond to the 7 Elements? Please fill in any blank spaces in the worksheet of the Element(s) that best describes the [name of LHD or SHD] practice (strategies, programs,

policies). 2. Small Group Discussion (20 minutes): Time permitting, break up in pairs and describe to your partner one or two

activities you chose to describe. 3. Close. Give your worksheet to the Facil itator. The work of the entire group will be summarized and sent out to all

participants.

Products: a) Notes and summary of participants’ written comments from the worksheets; b) Summary of participants ’ descriptions of [name of LHD or SHD] activities in the framework described by NACCHO.

7 Elements of Health Equity Practice WORKSHEET DRAFT DRAFT Name ______________________________

Element of Health Equity Practice

Example from ‘Expanding the Boundaries’ pp. 40-48

[LHD SHD] example from my knowledge of the agency’s work and activities

Health department explores health equity practice directed toward the

causes of social inequalities and not just the health consequences of those inequalities.

CLASS Issues: San Francisco HIA’s on

living wage legislation, displacement (gentrification), paid sick leave, day laborer’s working

conditions

Develop all iances with other agencies and organizations to create

openings for participation in policy decisions, beyond the perceived boundaries of public health programs that directly affect the

social inequalities at the root of health inequities.

King County, WA: Strategic plan and ordinance obligates the public health department to work with

other agencies to advance equity and social justice in the county.

Develop relationships with communities that are based on mutual recognition of each other’s

strengths and leadership capabilities, are long-term rather than situational and are base d on

shared interests in directly confronting the social inequalities that are the root of health inequities.

Health departments in 5 Midwest

states (MI, MN, MO, OH, WI) joined Healthy Heartlands Coalition to build base of residents to address mass incarceration, low wage work educational opportunity, and more.

Participate strategically in

campaigns initiated and led by others, which might not be primarily about health but nonetheless advance health equity goals.

Alameda County (CA) involved in campaign initiated and led by

community activists on displacement and diesel pollution in West Oakland.

Develop strategies to protect

against political risk, sometimes associated with health equity practice, by building a base that can help create openings to participate

in activities that would otherwise be politically constrained.

Boston Center for Health Equity and

Social Justice: established organizational bases to work systematically with communities to

create demands for health department participation.

Adopt organizational development strategies that incorporate health

equity principles into categorical programs as well as new and creative practice.

Ingham County (Michigan)

dialogue-based approaches with public health staff and community

to illuminate how class, racism, and other forms of oppression are root causes of health inequities.

Develop a public narrative that is not circumscribed by diseases, risk factors, or populations but rather articulates the relationship between

health inequities and the underlying social inequalities.

Narratives Strategy Team: community partners and Minnesota

DPH, uncovering where the individual-based public narratives

dominate discussions of health.

Please return your completed worksheet to [name]. Thank you!

Comments: _____________________________________________________________________________________.

Include me in future discussions of how [LHD or SHD] can expand the boundaries of health equity practice (X) :__