Excerpts from: Foundational Practices for Health Equity: A Learning and Action Tool for Public Health Organizations 2018 (Ayers, et al., 2018)

Seven foundational practices have been identified to advance health equity. Each foundational practice is as important as the other and support each other in achieving equitable outcomes. These foundational practices are:

• Expand the understanding of health in words and action
• Assess and influence the policy context
• Lead with an equity lens
• Use data to advance health equity
• Advance health equity through continuous learning
• Support successful partnerships and strengthen community capacity
• Assure strategic and targeted use of resources

Expand Understanding of Health in Words and Action

1. Intentionally engage in efforts to expand the understanding of what creates health both within programs and with external partners
2. Focus on eliminating structural inequities and create opportunities for health

Assess and Influence the Policy Context

1. Actively assess the policy context in which people live, and how policies support or inhibit the ability to achieve full health potential
2. Leverage policy change to address social determinants of health and advance health equity

Lead with an Equity Lens

Commit to understanding the impact social and economic conditions have on equitable outcomes.

Use Data to Advance Health Equity

Collect and provide actionable data for improvement and accountability advancing health equity.

Advance Health Equity Through Continuous Learning

Embrace a culture of learning that incorporate improvement processes at all levels.

Support Successful Partnerships and Strengthen Community Capacity

1. Actively engage multiple partners
2. Explicitly include communities experiencing health inequities

Assure Strategic and Targeted Use of Resources

Optimize the use of resources and direct investments to address social determinants of health and health inequities.

Works Cited

Ayers, J., Batdorf-Barnes, A., Bloyd, J., Fink, B., Swain, G., & Waltz, M. (2018). Foundational Practices for Health Equity. Retrieved from Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO): https://www.astho.org/Health-Equity/Documents/Foundational-Practices-for-Health-Equity/