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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
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the role systemic inequities play in health and health care. Health professions education and training should include guidance on how to address these inequities and how to have deep conversations within our learning institutions. This article outlines a novel framework for training health professionals and health professional educators to communicate about diversity, equity, and inclusion more effectively. The framework embraces a dialogue model called “medical improv.” Key elements of this model include examinations of identity and positionality, caretaking and team-making, and conversations with a skeptic.
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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White Paper/Brief
This brief describes work to partner health departments with community organizing groups, focusing on a collaboration between Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and two community organizations. These partnerships allow health departments to actively address power imbalances that may decrease community trust in health departments. The Santa Barbara Public Health Department developed an analysis of power and worked directly with grassroots organizers. To build trust, the health department undertook many actions, including sharing organizational charts, explaining decisions, facilitating personal sharing and trust exercises, spending time together, discussing structural racism, and more. During COVID-19, these partners shared information targeted towards those with various languages and literacy levels.
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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White Paper/Brief
In northwest Arkansas, the Marshallese community has experienced a disproportionate COVID-19 burden. This response plan, funded by the CARES act, hired English/Marshallese bilingual staff to provide contact tracing, navigation, and other types of response. Staff that were not bilingual participated in cultural humility training.
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
This article describes strategies to embed equity into the standard operations of the health department. These include incorporating equity-focused language into written documents like strategic plans and mission statements; utilizing an organizational evaluation toolkit (e.g. Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative Organizational Self-Assessment Toolkit) to find opportunities to improve equity focus of public health strategy; and establishing organization-wide equity-focused work groups to ensure the continued focus on health equity in future interventions.
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
This report describes how health departments are uniquely positioned to serve as experts and advisors in community health issues, and can provide key information to underline existing disparities. They are also positioned to coordinate partnerships between different sectors, play an advisory role in decision-making, and ensure investment efforts are aligned with Community Health Assessments and Community Health Needs Assessments, and that these efforts truly advance health equity. Public health departments have expertise on potential government sources of funding and have experience in community engagement.
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
This brief outlines case studies, resources, and recommendations that counties and cities can take to explicitly and intentionally embed equity staff and practices into their emergency operations structures within the public health emergency response and recovery process. To implement this strategy, health departments should build robust community partnerships before a crisis occurs. They should collaborate with community based organizations, non-profits, and leaders to ensure that interventions are responsive to community needs. Before an emergency, health departments should create a coalition of community partners, and establish a Community Organization Active in Disaster group and agree upon decision-making structures, values, and resources. Health departments should compensate partners for their time. Finally, they should provide opportunity for feedback by creating a Community Advisory Group.
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
Community power building organizations (CPBOs) can help support community engagement activities and drive policy change. This report outlines why health departments should collaborate with CPBOs and effective ways to work together. It includes findings from state and local departments who have worked with CPBOs to reform how decisions are made and help improve outcomes related to health equity. The findings include building power by inviting CPBOs to decision-making tables, scheduling regular meetings with CPBOs to build stronger relationships, and/or working with CBPOs to create strategies to advance health-promoting policies.