An Overview of the Work of the Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative: Local Health Departments Working Collectively to Address Health Inequities

The Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII), a collaborative of the eleven local public health departments (PHDs) of the San Francisco Bay Area region who formed in 2005 to transform public health practice to achieve health equity and to build healthier communities. BARHII's primary focus is increasing the capacity of PHDs to address the underlying social conditions that contribute to disproportionate rates of preventable disease and death in certain communities and on the institutional policies and practices that shape those conditions. BARHII provides a forum in which PHDs can learn from each other as they attempt to change their practice, develop and disseminate best practices, and engage more effectively in activities at a regional level, including policy advocacy and interaction with regulatory and planning agencies.

BARHII is moderating a panel presentation on strategies being employed by local and state public health departments to address health inequities. The panel discussion will commence with a brief introduction and review of BARHII's work to address health inequities including an overview of publications and policy advocacy activities that have been produced. BARHII's Organizational Self-Assessment to Address Health Inequities Toolkit will be described.