Working Towards Health Equity: The Boston Public Health Commission's Anti-Racism Advisory Committee

The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) has made the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in health a top priority. We know through our work in this area that racism and discrimination are root causes of disparities in health. BPHC is committed to looking at its own internal policies, structures, and procedures to work towards health equity. In the fall 2007, a participatory process for feedback from BPHC staff was initiated to gather recommendations and suggestions on convening an internal anti-racism advisory committee. This committee was formed in March 2008 to help review, assess, and develop internal agency recommendations for BPHC in a thoughtful and inclusive process. We will highlight the strategies, challenges and lessons learned through our process to work towards health equity and becoming an anti-racist organization. The Boston Public Health Commission hopes to illustrate how an internal, cross-functional advisory committee can be used as a strategy for agencies to move towards becoming an anti-racist organization. We also will discuss the role of our Senior Leadership Team in sponsoring and partnering with such an advisory committee. The strategies and practical approaches used in implementing an internal process to evaluate agency policies and procedures will be valuable to other local health departments aiming to set up a similar work plan. Armed with strategies for creating an internal structure, a collaborative planning framework, and examples of the kinds of discussion and planning involved, health departments will be better suited to institutionalize anti-racism work as a necessary step towards health equity.