Jessica Owens-Young, PhD’s Post

This is a topic I and many other public health leaders have been discussing for a while. Looking forward to attending this roundtable and learning from others' experiences. We talk a lot about "lived experience" and "community engagement," but that conversation also needs to include: - How are we compensating community members for their time and work? - Why specifically are we inviting them to the table? E.g. to set priorities and develop strategy? To get feedback on an initiative? To share info with trusted messengers? - How do we ensure that, whether they attend 1 event or are long-term committee members, the community is a partner in our work? Are we preparing them for discussions ahead of time (do they know the answer to #2?)? Are we providing direct follow-up to questions asked or tasks promised? Are they part of the evaluation process?

In Los Angeles, teams of community health workers are going door-to-door to provide direct support to residents. This initiative aims to bridge healthcare gaps and more effectively address individual public health needs. From wellness checks to connecting people with essential services, these dedicated teams are redefining community care. The Public Health Infrastructure Grant’s (PHIG) flexible funding model allows health departments to determine how to best meet the unique needs of their communities. Learn more about how PHIG is transforming public health infrastructure and making a tangible impact in our neighborhoods. https://bit.ly/3R4WG78

Principles of Trustworthiness Toolkit: "These 10 Principles of Trustworthiness integrate local perspectives with established precepts of community engagement to guide health care, public health, and other organizations as they work to demonstrate they are worthy of trust. The AAMC Center for Health Justice will continue this work to support organizations right now and in the future as they partner with communities and the many sectors that serve them to develop ways to shift our society toward health equity and justice." https://lnkd.in/gzNm9UvV

We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Visión y Compromiso to support the vital work of promotoras and community health workers (CHWs) under the California Technical Assistance (TA) Marketplace! These trusted community advocates play a crucial role in connecting individuals to essential resources and services, and through this partnership, we’re enhancing their ability to serve clients by introducing new Community Supports services under CalAIM. Together, we’re empowering CHWs and promotoras to create lasting, positive change for the communities they serve. About Visión y Compromiso: For over two decades, Visión y Compromiso has championed the work of promotoras and community health workers, advocating for the health and wellness of underserved communities across California. With a commitment to leadership, education, and policy change, they support a network of over 4,000 promotoras, fostering culturally responsive programs that address pressing community needs. #CaliforniaTechnicalAssistanceMarketplace #CalAIM #communitysupports

What does it look like to fund, design and implement cross-sector, community-driven and anti-racist approaches that address the social determinants of health? When we think of public health, there’s value in thinking of it as an ecosystem that involves multiple sectors, each with different roles and different strengths. This new primer from Public Health Institute's Build Healthy Places Network and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD)(NACDD), with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, takes exactly that approach.   It lays out a roadmap for how public health and community development sectors can work together—and alongside communities—to achieve their common goals to advance health and racial equity, with recommendations, strategies and lessons-learned from national, state and local leaders. One highlight that stands out to me: Practitioners need to develop a shared language across sectors—not just to understand each other's common terms (for example, CDC can stand for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but also community development corporations)—but specifically around race and equity.   https://lnkd.in/g7ak-y2y   #PublicHealth #CommunityDevelopment #CommunityHealth #CDFI #UpstreamHealth #HealthEquity #RacialEquity #SocialDeterminants #HealthAndHousing #VitalConditions 

Good advice

We are thrilled to partner for the first time with the MEXICAN COALITION FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF YOUTH & FAMILIES INC, whose Community Health Worker program is making health services accessible for NYC’s Latinx community. Each month, they will provide care navigation, translation, and appointment support to 1,200 people while helping 300 individuals enroll in affordable healthcare. Learn more about how Mexican Coalition advances health equity and empowers individuals with the resources they need: https://loom.ly/4JagRiM #LatinxHealth #CommunityCare #HealthEquity

Patricia Nickel, Ph.D., and I recently published an article titled "Community Engagement, Equity, and Cross-Sector Public Health Practice." This article aims to improve understanding of community engagement and health equity in the context of cross-sector governance for public health. Whether you're a public health practitioner, researcher, or passionate about creating equitable communities, the article offers valuable perspectives and practical approaches. It's definitely worth checking out.

Academic health systems serve a vital role in the health and well-being of the communities they serve. As such, the ACA recognized the role of providers in advancing community health, mandating that #nonprofit hospital organizations conduct community health needs assessments and develop a community health improvement plan to meet identified needs. Health systems can build on the progress and connections made through these processes to more effectively allocate resources, drive tangible reductions in health disparities, and improve access to care. Eboné Carrington, Alex Morin, Michael Siao Tick Chong and Thomas Enders describe how to prepare a multi-mission community health and health equity strategic plan here:

As California works to create a more equitable and culturally responsive health care system, the integration of community health workers, promotores, and representatives (CHW/P/Rs) is at the heart of achieving that vision.   My amazing colleague Carlina Hansen from the California Health Care Foundation was among health leaders who had the opportunity to testify at a recent joint informational hearing with the Assembly Health Committee and Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 about the bright spots and barriers to unleashing the full potential of our CHW/P/R workforce.   Despite CHW/P/R services becoming a recognized Medi-Cal benefit in 2022, sustainable financing and program integration face bureaucratic challenges that are hindering community health workers from improving their service across California communities, particularly for immigrants, people of color, and people with low incomes .   Learn more in our latest CHCF blog about what’s needed to support CHW/P/Rs and the communities they serve who value the culturally responsive health care they receive from this workforce.   #HealthEquity #MediCal #HealthWorkforce