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California Public Health Departments Leading the Way in Innovative Work To Achieve Health Equity | CA Benefits Broker
by Anthony Iton M.D.
Senior Vice President of Healthy Communities
Health Happens with health and justice for all. This was the message conveyed on December 4, when The California Endowment hosted public health department leadership from across the state to honor their unique efforts and innovations to combat health inequities. The Advancing Health Equity Awards: Highlighting Health Equity Practice in California Public Health Departments showcased the work of 13 health departments across the state that goes beyond the traditional scope of public health. This event was created to feature and reward public health departments that are at the forefront of redefining health and health care to include health equity practices rooted in strong community partnership and focused on the conditions that drive health outcomes – from safe parks to quality education to fair housing. The event also served to inform and inspire others committed to improving health equity.
California has always been a leader in innovation, and the same holds true for our local public health departments working to achieve health equity. By facing some of California’s most difficult challenges head on, they are working to make communities around the state safer, healthier, and stronger for everyone.
State leaders, including Darrell Steinberg, attended the gala, showing their support and appreciation for the progress each of the 13 departments nominated are making towards achieving health equity in California.
A committee of public health leaders from across the state reviewed 13 nominations for exemplary work in striving for health equity. Four public health departments stood out in particular, due to their exceptional work reducing health disparities in 2014. These departments include Alameda County Public Health Department, Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency Public Health Branch, Sonoma County Department of Health Services, and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Alameda County Public Health Department’s award came away with a grant of $100,000, while the latter three counties’ grants were awarded $25,000 each, all for efforts to further progress toward health equity.
Each of these departments are initiating unique and innovative programs within their communities to improve the health and well-being of all their neighborhoods.
Arnold X. Perkins Award for Outstanding Health Equity Practice was awarded to Alameda County Public Health Department for their work on housing inequities, focusing particularly on low-income communities of color in Oakland and implemented in partnership with community organizations that build power. These efforts reflect a long-term commitment to building an organizational culture focused on health inequities, developing strong relationships with community organizing groups, multi-sector collaborations with advocacy groups and governmental partners and communicating directly with decision makers to address the root causes of health inequities.
- The Health Equity Award for Exemplary Small County Practice was awarded to the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Branch for its work with Reach Higher Shasta, a community collaborative focused on addressing the root causes of poverty by increasing educational attainment and career development among Shasta County youth. A primary goal of their partnership was to improve community health by increasing career opportunities for local youth that will result in higher incomes, using a community capacity building approach.
- Health Equity Award for Exemplary Medium County Practice was awarded to the Sonoma County Department of Health Services for its work with Health Action, which placed a strategic focus on economic security, educational attainment and health system improvement through dedicated subcommittees that work throughout the county.
- Health Equity Award for Exemplary Large County Practice was awarded to the Los Angeles Department of Public Health for its program, Parks After Dark. Parks After Dark is a partnership among the parks department, law enforcement, public health, social services, community-based organizations and community residents to reduce and prevent community violence. The program has decreased serious and violent crime in three neighborhoods, contrasted with other neighborhoods without the program where crime continues to rise.
A final award was distributed as a one-time honor, The Health Equity Founders Award, given to Arnold X. Perkins for a lifetime of inspired vision, passion and commitment to social justice and health equity in California.
With the commitment of leaders in these public health departments throughout the state, as well as the vision of passionate leaders like Arnold X. Perkins, California has experienced many successes toward achieving greater health equity across its communities. There is much work still to be done, but the achievements serve to inspire future work on improving health equity.
