Aroused, concerned and involved: Engaging community members in policy development to reduce inequities and create healthy communities

A citywide partnership of grassroots, governmental and other organizations, led by a community-based non-profit, is working with residents to select policy-focused actions that address food insecurity and poor health in DC's underserved areas. Childhood overweight/obesity is approaching 50%; communities have high poverty and crime rates, which limit use of parks/green space; and residents rarely participate in policy development to improve their circumstances; see themselves as “voiceless”; and are not involved in important decisions affecting their lives. To reverse childhood obesity, the partnership seeks policy and systems changes which promote healthy living and give voice to underserved children and families. Policies considered include: implementing the federal Afterschool Supper Program; creation of a "saturation index" of unhealthy food/beverage outlets and residents' use of the index to identify locations for healthy vendors; increasing safety/accessibility of parks/playgrounds through workforce policies; and advocating policies for insurers to reimburse community-based fitness/healthy living programs. Partners include the health department and other city offices, civic organizations, and a professional association for black children's development. Partners believe that an “aroused and concerned and involved community” leads to policies that will move the statistics in these underserved areas in a more favorable direction. Partners were instrumental in passage of the 2010 DC Healthy Schools Act. The presentation will discuss how the partnership attracted community members and others, including corporations and foundations, who view it as an effective and trusted resource to identify inequities, propose solutions, and galvanize grassroots groups to address health inequities among the underserved, particularly communities of color.