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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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Case Study
This case study presents the adaptations made to existing infrastructure by the Penn State Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) and Better Together REACH (a community–academic coalition using grant funds from Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) to address the needs of 2 Latinx communities in Pennsylvania due to disparities. Better Together REACH has leveraged strong community collaborations to implement locally tailored practice-based and evidence-based strategies aimed at increasing healthy nutrition programming, physical activity opportunities, and diabetes prevention programs. This initiative brings together more than 60 local organizations that are now working together to break down silos, share a common agenda to address health disparities, and improve community wellness and the quality of life for all their residents. The partnership was leveraged in 2020 for conducting outreach to Latinx communities, developing educational material and resources related to COVID-19 in Spanish, and organizing informational webinars in Spanish.
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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Case Study
This case study describes how the Student Response Team (SRT) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center assisted the local health departments in mitigation and response activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The SRT was a voluntary student-led effort that assisted in health contact tracing, monitoring social media, and education the public. Their experience demonstrates how students can increase the public health surge capacity of local health departments while gaining applied experience during public health emergencies. The recommendations include forming, training, and deploying SRTs throughout academic institutions to implement during and beyond the current pandemic.
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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Case Study
The case study outlines how Lake County Health Department (LCHD) in Illinois created a health equity team whose job included facilitating relationships with community and agency partners. The case study includes examples of how the team created tools to increase awareness within LCHD of the impact of social determinants on health. For the team, LCHD specifically prioritized candidates who had lived experience in historically vulnerable communities and those who were used to multicultural bridging.
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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Case Study
This case study outlines how the Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) in Ohio helped to found, coordinate, and facilitate a multisectoral consortium that created a Community Health Improvement Plan for the county. The consortium also implemented trainings on equity. The CCBH’s participation in the consortium helped bring equity to the front of CCBH’s strategic plan.
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.
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 article discusses the Medical Adaptations series and reveals several lessons. It offers recommendations on providing and utilizing information technology for online learning to mitigate some inequities borne by socioeconomic and generational differences, English as a second-language learners, and those with disabilities who do not have access to adaptive technology.