Health Equity Resources
Resources
While this page is not intended to be an exhaustive list, it is meant to assist those seeking to successfully implement programs and initiatives to improve health and equity. Our framework Health Equity Plan is available here.
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing public health agencies in the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia, and over 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO’s Center for Population Health Strategies supports state/territorial health officials (S/THOs) in advancing population health improvement as a core function of public health agencies. ASTHO’s framework for addressing population health encompasses three pillars: Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health, Clinical to Community Connections, and Data Analytics and Public Health Informatics. ASTHO’s organizational vision is to support state and territorial health agencies advancing health equity and optimal health for all.
Collaboratives for Health Equity (CHE)
Collaboratives for Health Equity (CHE) is a national initiative designed to empower leaders and communities to identify and address social, economic, and environmental conditions that shape health and life opportunities. Launched in 2006, CHE blazed trails as a national place-based initiative, formerly known as PLACE MATTERS, focused on understanding the power of place through community engagement. 10 years later, in 2016, CHE is rebranded as a national community of practice committed to policy and systems change that advances equity. Our national center and 19 teams in 27 jurisdictions throughout the US are helping to build the capacity of communities and leaders using effective models of partnership, advocacy and engagement. Our work focuses on the development of strong multi-sectoral networks to share data, leverage resources, advance policy, and disseminate best practices, so every person has an opportunity to achieve optimal health.
Health Opportunity and Equity Initiative (HOPE)
The Health Opportunity and Equity (HOPE) Initiative, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, was launched to start a new conversation about health because we believe that every person in the U.S., no matter their background or ZIP code, should have a fair and just opportunity for the best possible health and well-being.
The HOPE Initiative tracks 28 indicators that span the life course, including health outcomes and indicators related to opportunity such as socioeconomic factors, the physical and social environment, and access to health care at the state and national level. Gaps in health do not develop by chance or by choice. We chose these measures because they reflect the systems and policies that affect health equity. Data are also provided by race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, making this the first tool of its kind.
HealthEquityGuide.org is a resource with inspiring examples of how health departments have concretely advanced health equity-both internally within their departments and externally with communities and other government agencies. After years of struggling to close health disparities, a new movement has taken root: health departments are using a set of strategic practices to confront the power imbalances and forms of oppression at the root of health inequities, change the conversation about what creates health equity, develop leadership and support innovation, and build a movement for health equity.
Healthy People provides science-based, 10-year national objectives for improving the health of all Americans. Nearly everyone is impacted by the social determinants of health in one way or another. Healthy People 2020 organizes the social determinants of health around five key domains: (1) Economic Stability, (2) Education, (3) Health and Health Care, (4) Neighborhood and Built Environment, and (5) Social and Community Context.
To create effective programs, we must work collaboratively across sectors to address the unique needs of their community. Below are a variety of resources, organized by domain, to help you get started and explore the ways communities across the country are addressing social determinants of health.
Check this page regularly for updates on upcoming webinars and events, public meetings, tools, and new resources. For a complete list of past Healthy People 2020 webinars, visit the Webinars and Events archive. Subscribe to the Healthy People 2020 Listserv for email updates on upcoming webinars and events!
Community Health Training Institute's Health Equity Toolkit
Designed to help community members, stakeholders, organizations, and many more explore and tackle the roots of health inequity by addressing the social determinants of health. According to Healthy People 2020, health equity means achieving the highest level of health for all people, and it entails focused societal efforts to address avoidable inequalities by equalizing the conditions for health for all groups, especially for those who have experienced socioeconomic disadvantage or historical injustices. Creating a just and equitable society where all can participate and prosper requires the joint effort of many sectors, and we hope you can find some guidance in this toolkit.
Health Equity Leadership & Exchange Network (HELEN)
The Health Equity Leadership & Exchange Network (HELEN) is a collaborative effort between the National REACH Coalition, Morehouse School of Medicine, and the National Collaborative for Health Equity. The HELEN project will strengthen health equity leadership and increase the number of sustainable campaigns that play an important role in offering community education and mobilization.
The HELEN initiative, which will include members of various organizations, coalitions, and associations committed to the elimination of health disparities, will serve as a national forum for health equity champions to share information about timely, relevant, and pressing policy issues impacting health equity.
The National Association of County Health Officials (NACCHO)
NACCHO has sought to improve the public's health while adhering to a set of core values: equity, excellence, participation, respect, integrity, leadership, science & innovation. NACCHO comprises nearly 3,000 local health departments across the United States. Together, we form an organization focused on being a leader, partner, catalyst, and voice for change for local health departments around the nation. NACCHO offers resources and educational opportunities to enhance public health efforts at the state and local level.
The National REACH Coalition, founded in 2004 as a unified entity of grantees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health program, celebrates the 20-year (1999-2019) milestone of REACH. The accomplishment and impact over the past 20 years of the cumulative work of 168 REACH grantees has been well-documented in 314 REACH publications in peer-reviewed journals. The NRC's mission is to increase the capacity and social capital of underserved racial and ethnic communities across the United States to achieve health equity.
Office of Minority Health (OMH)
The Office of Minority Health is dedicated to improving the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will help eliminate health disparities. The Office of Minority Health supports health equity through:
The Office of Minority Health Resource Center (OMHRC): A source for minority health literature, research, and referrals for consumers, community organizations and health professionals. OMHRC also offers capacity building and technical assistance services designed to increase the strength and competence of health care agencies and programs.
The National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (The National CLAS Standards): These standards help organizations provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to better serve our nation’s increasingly diverse communities.
Minority Population Profiles: These profiles provide detailed demographic, language fluency (where relevant), education, economic, insurance coverage and health status information, as well as full census reports.
National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities & NPA Digital Stories
The NPA Digital Stories are a collection of videos featuring leaders from federal, state, local, and tribal agencies and the private sector who are working toward the NPA’s goal of eliminating health disparities. In the videos, national partners, Regional Health Equity Council (RHEC) members, and Federal Interagency Health Equity Team (FIHET) members provide a glimpse into the impetus for the creation of the NPA and discuss its critical role in the effort to reduce health disparities. Speakers also discuss factors that contribute to health disparities and efforts to achieve health equity in the United States.
Unnatural Causes Top 10 Resources
This database contains hundreds of articles, Web sites, video clips, charts, datasets, interviews, transcripts, and educational and outreach materials.
The 8 Domains of Livability framework is used by many of the towns, cities, counties and states enrolled in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities to organize and prioritize their work to become more livable for both older residents and people of all ages.
Educational Opportunities
The Racial Equity Institute (REI) is an alliance of trainers, organizers and leaders working to create and develop racially equitable organizations and systems. They offer a series of workshops, aimed to build on each other. Their Phase One workshop allows participants to examine modern day racial inequity through a two-day-long process which helps to provide historical factors, talking points, and an organizational definition of racism. The process is designed to help leaders and organizations who want to proactively understand and address racism, both in their organization and in the community where the organization is working.
Created in partnership with The Center for Assessment and Policy Development, MP Associates and the World Trust Educational Services, The Racial Equity Tools website is designed to support individuals and groups working to achieve racial equity. The site offers tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas for people who want to increase their own understanding and to help those working toward justice at every level- in systems, organizations, communities and the culture at large. There is no charge for use of the site and information, articles and other tools may be downloaded and printed.
The directory of materials found on this site have been prepared as a shared tool for building a community of connected, informed and engaged practitioners. With the ability to generate a Resource Guide tailored to their own goals, these materials are practical resources that will assist organizations working within the racial healing and racial equity field. Practical resources including articles, organizations, research, books, media strategies and training curricula are included for organizations and individuals working to achieve racial healing and equity in their communities. The site is sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation through their America Healing work. There is no charge for use of suite contents.
Speaking Down Barriers is a nonprofit organization with a mission of providing encounters that transform our life together across human differences for healing and justice. Their team of listeners, healers, artists, researchers, teachers, theologians, & creatives work together to offer encounters that transform our life together across human difference. Facilitators offer workshops which use spoken word poetry, transformative dialogue, and deep listening tools. Workshop and speaking fees vary.
American Public Health Association (Fact Sheets)
The American Public Health Association (APHA) is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to: Improve the health of the public and achieve equity in health status. Creating health equity is a guiding priority and core value of the organization. APHA publishes the American Journal of Public Health and The Nation's Health newspaper, lead public awareness campaigns and facilitate an annual meeting and expo at which thousands of people share the latest public health research.
APHA champions the health of all people and all communities, and speak out for public health issues and policies backed by science. They are the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public's health.
APHA Health Equity Fact Sheets are available on their website for print at no charge.
Check out these Podcasts
These podcasts allow you to explore interactive case studies, educational topics and resources.
Reports
Discrimination in America: Final Report
This report is part of a series titled “Discrimination in America.” The series is based on a survey conducted for National Public Radio, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The survey was conducted January 26 – April 9, 2017, among a nationally representative, probability-based telephone (cell and landline) sample of 3,453 adults age 18 or older. The survey included nationally representative samples of African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, as well as white Americans; men and women, and LGBTQ adults. This report presents the results specifically for a nationally representative probability sample of 3,453 U.S. adults. Previous reports in the series analyze each group individually, while this final report discusses major highlights from the series.
Health Equity Report 2017 (DHHS)
The Health Equity Report presents a comprehensive analysis of HRSA’s program efforts in reducing health disparities and promoting health equity for various populations at the national, state, and local levels. The Report addresses HRSA’s key Strategic Plan goals such as improving access to quality health care and services, strengthening the health workforce, building healthy communities, and improving health equity.
National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report 2018 (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
The National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report assesses the performance of our healthcare system and identifies areas of strengths and weaknesses, as well as disparities, for access to healthcare and quality of healthcare. Quality is described in terms of six priorities: patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, effective treatment, healthy living, and care affordability. The report is based on more than 250 measures of quality and disparities covering a broad array of healthcare services and settings.
CDC Releases Second Health Disparities & Inequalities Report – United States, 2013
CDC and its partners work to identify and address the factors that lead to health disparities among racial, ethnic, geographic, socioeconomic, and other groups so that barriers to health equity can be removed. The first step in this process is to shine a bright light on the problems to be solved. Providing accurate, useful data on the causes of illness and death in the United States and across the world is a foundation of CDC’s mission and work.
Policy Change
Policy Link supports progressive legislation to grassroots organizing and advocacy, from philanthropic efforts to socially responsible businesses, we spotlight leading-edge examples of equity in action. The people, practices and policies highlighted in this section are innovative and time-tested examples of what works in communities across the nation.
Unnatural Causes Policy and Change
This database contains hundreds of articles, web sites, video clips, charts, datasets, interviews, transcripts, and educational and outreach materials supporting equity work and policy change. Check back often as we will continue to add resources on a regular basis.
South Carolina Outcome and Policy Scorecard / Prosperity Now
The Prosperity Now Scorecard is a comprehensive resource featuring data on family financial health and policy recommendations to help put all U.S. households on a path to prosperity. The Scorecard equips advocates, policymakers and practitioners with national, state and local data to jump-start a conversation about solutions and policies that put households on stronger financial footing across five issue areas: Financial Assets & Income; Businesses & Jobs; Homeownership & Housing; Health Care and Education.
The National Equity Atlas is a first-of-its-kind data and policy tool for the community leaders and policymakers who are working to build a new economy that is equitable, resilient, and prosperous.
This NPA priority promotes the consideration of equity in the development and implementation of all policies and programs of public and private organizations, in recognition that all policies and programs have the potential to impact health and the social determinants of health. This priority area embraces an approach that seeks to engage both public and private organizations to leverage their policies and programs to assure the conditions for optimal health for all people.