Multnomah County Health Equity Initiative

Launched in June 2007, the Multnomah County Health Equity Initiative (Oregon) is a county-wide effort, headed by Multnomah County Chair and the County Health Department intending to reduce disparities in health by raising public awareness of the root inequities underlying health disparities through media and community screenings of Unnatural Causes, and discovering key potential policy and practice solutions through community dialogues and interviews with policy and program experts. As of May 2008, 54 community dialogues had been held both within the County and in the communities at large, with over 400 attendees; numerous local and national experts had been interviewed. Lessons learned during the initiative's first year, as well as promising policy and practice solutions identified, will be discussed.