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Best Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes when implemented in multiple real-life settings, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
A recommendations report for advancing health equity in the Massachusetts Legislature. Especially as the state continues response to and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, the report ultimately emphasizes the necessity of an equity lens in decision-making. Its guiding principles also include the need for the community to be a partner and have a voice in government decision-making, the need for complete and actionable data, and the acknowledgement that returning to the pre-pandemic “normal” is not an option when attempting to alleviate the disparities created by that “normal”. The report outlines immediate, intermediate, and long term actions towards health equity on a policy level. These recommendations impact healthcare, social determinants of health, governance, and more.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
Document outlines the strategic diversity, equity, and inclusion plan for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Emphasizes the need for staff that reflects the diversity of communities served. Provides practical goals and strategies for 2021-2023.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
The article details the use of a peer reviewed, validated tool called the Equity Matrix in assessing inequities in the COVID-19 pandemic. The article identifies sources of inequities, including but not limited to public policy, not sufficiently tailoring interventions towards marginalized groups, and vaccine hesitancy.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Peer Review Study
This article describes G4H, an intervention to mitigate loneliness. This article identifies the need for more interventions to address loneliness and seeks to contribute to the evidence available through a randomized controlled trial where individuals participate in either a group based belonging intervention (G4H) or in cognitive behavioral therapy. The research takes place in Australia and included 174 people who received the intervention prior to COVID-19, with follow up measures collected after COVID-19. Results indicated that both CBT and G4H were effective at improving symptoms, but G4H showed higher benefits regarding loneliness, depression, and wellbeing.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
Report describing Anti-Asian racism during COVID-19 in California. This research report presents the results of interviews conducted with 20 individuals from Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in California. These interviews discussed perceived causes of anti-Asian racism, the impact on the community, and suggested or existing mitigating strategies. These interviews highlighted the connection to the COVID-19 pandemic and the underlying and systemic causes of racism. Mitigating strategies included education about the AAPI community, improved reporting systems, and promoting policy changes to address root causes of racism.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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White Paper/Brief
This report details how the COVID-19 pandemic became a catalyst for extremism through disinformation, echo chambers, and targeted malice towards minority groups. Information is included regarding how false information has led to the creation of extremist groups and the narratives used within those spaces. The authors present a review of the existing literature, identify the gaps the research and data collection relevant to this area, and provide recommendations for policy interventions to help address this concern.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
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White Paper/Brief
This resource makes recommendations related to establishing crisis stabilization systems for persons living with mental illness. This article describes how pandemic-related changes and funding increases can be leveraged to strengthen statewide crisis stabilization systems for individuals living with mental illness and substance use disorder, including recommendations for specific stakeholders to engage and action steps. The practice strategy this article is focused on is policy and organizational change to improve public health infrastructure.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
The report details 13 evidence-backed, built environment interventions to advance health equity. It focuses on 6 domains: safe/affordable housing, active living assets and facilities, regional/local infrastructure, food security and nutrition, vacant property reclamation and urban greening, and neighborhood and community design. The report ranks each intervention by strong, moderate, or weak evidence.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
The article outlines biomedical, behavioral, and social/structural interventions to improve HIV prevention and treatment in sexual and gender minority Latinx communities. The authors emphasize the need for a combination of these types of interventions in addressing health issues like HIV and COVID-19.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
RELEASE DATE:
Summary Report/Recommendations
This resources summarizes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on substance use and the experiences of people who used drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights include: the pandemic increased the risk of overdose for people who use drugs, and in response people who use drugs reported using more harm reduction strategies. The pandemic also motivated change in wanting to quit drug use for study participants, but also highlighted the social determinants of health as barriers to sustainable recovery.