Health equity is achieved when “everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their
highest level of health.”[1] In order “achieve health equity, we must change the systems and policies” that give rise to “historical and contemporary injustices; economic, social and other obstacles to health and healthcare; and preventable health disparities.”[2]
Public health entities and practitioners recognize the extent of health inequities in our society as well as the significance of law and policy in shaping health outcomes. Law can be a powerful influence on health, and it is arguably a determinant of health and health equity. Indeed, addressing laws, policies, and practices that have created obstacles to good health for all people is an increasingly important part of public health practice and a key to advancing health equity.
Despite the important role that law plays in shaping and influencing public health, systematically understanding the connection between law and health outcomes is one of the primary knowledge gaps among the public health workforce. Public health law is not part of most public health, medical, or nursing trainings.
In this Web Forum, CDC’s Public Health Law Program, NLAPH, and ChangeLab Solutions will explore critical connections between public health law, health equity, and public health practice. Presenters will highlight narratives, research efforts, strategies and resources that seek to identify and fill these law and policy gaps in public health practice.
Speakers will discuss:
The knowledge and training gap in public health practitioners’ understanding of and capacity to leverage law and policy to improve public health outcomes and health equity.
Learnings from two multi-year qualitative assessments that examined: (1) health departments’ current work, challenges, and successes in addressing structural drivers of health and promoting health equity and (2) the academic landscape that prepares public health practitioners to enter the workforce.
Speakers will preview:
Tools, resources, and opportunities being developed to address the challenges and needs around building and strengthening the capacity of the public health law workforce." [1] “What is Health Equity?”, CDC Office of Health Equity, https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/index.html. [2] “What is Health Equity?”, CDC Office of Health Equity, https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/whatis/index.html.
Presenters
Moderator
Sponsors
