Introducing the US RWJF Commission to build a healthier America: Evidence, politics, and action

During the Spring or Summer of 2007 the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) will officially launch a major initiative to create a high-profile, national commission on health equity, possibly to be called the RWJF Commission for a Healthier America. The non-partisan/bi-partisan commission will be made up of 10-12 prominent individuals from all sectors with major influences on health, e.g., education, urban planning, child development, public policy, business, labor. The commission's goal is to stimulate public awareness and discussion about socioeconomic as well as racial/ethnic inequalities in health and the most promising directions for reducing those gaps, with particular emphasis on social conditions and social policies. This session will discuss the rationale for this initiative, and why the RWJF is launching this effort now. Presentations will discuss the rationale for this initiative (Dr. Robin Mockenhaupt), the conceptual framework and research effort supporting the Commission's work (Dr. Paula Braveman), the current and planned activities of the Commission (Dr. David Williams), and the Commission's strategies, obstacles anticipated, and approaches to overcoming them (Commissioner, TBN).