Online Program

Panel Discussion

Despite advances in health care, racial and ethnic minorities and other underserved populations bear a disproportionate burden of illness, premature death and disability. The causes of health disparities are multiple and overlapping, and affect individuals throughout the life span. This understanding serves as the basis for the National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities (NPA). The NPA is an initiative led by the Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with the mission to increase the effectiveness of programs that target the elimination of health disparities through coordination of leaders, stakeholders and partners committed to action. The NPA is partnering with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) to highlight examples of current efforts to address health disparities through the consideration of equity in program and policy development and implementation. ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing state public health agencies in the United States, with membership including the chief health officials of these jurisdictions. ASTHO's primary function is to track, evaluate, and advise members on the impact and formation of public or private health policy which may affect them and to provide them with guidance and technical assistance on improving the nation's health. ASTHO’s executive leadership and state health officials (SHOs) have been actively engaged throughout the development of the NPA and the launch of the Regional Health Equity Councils (RHECs). This session will highlight the efforts of three state health departments (California, Minnesota, and Oklahoma) to integrate health equity into their policies and programs, and include a discussion of challenges, needs and emerging opportunities to promote health equity through policies and programs.

Session Objectives: Describe efforts by state health departments to promote health equity through their programs, including the levers (policy, administrative, and knowledge/data) they used to support these efforts. Discuss challenges and success stories to help facilitate this process for other organizations pursuing strategies to address health disparities. Identify emerging needs in the promotion of health equity, especially pertaining to leadership, data and evaluation.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)