Translating local health and social equity data into effective policy, programs and public awareness in Chicago

The journey that cities face in taking action to address geographic disparities in health outcomes requires leadership and stakeholder engagement across sectors. Campaigns such as the Life Expectancy Mapping Project draw attention to social determinants of health and cultivate interest in moving to a “Health-in-all Policies” action agenda in which stakeholders find mutual interest in improving health. The City of Chicago is well into this journey. Our original Healthy Chicago agenda was launched in 2011 with the goal of promoting health in 12 key priority areas by setting measurable targets and building partnerships.  Healthy Chicago 2.0 (HC2.0) was launched in 2015 to expand on the original initiative by examining our original key health priorities through a social equity lens in order to promote a more comprehensive action plan across sectors (e.g. planning, transportation, education).  The Chicago Life Expectancy Map released in 2015 informed this effort.  The map elucidates the relationship between community conditions and disparities in life expectancy in a way that is easily understood by non-traditional partners of public health. This approach is reflected through the entire development of HC2.0 as we describe the relationships of over 60 health outcomes (including life expectancy) with indicators across 5 domains of social determinants of health (e.g. economic stability, housing/built environment, healthcare, education, and social cohesion) among 77 community areas of Chicago. The resources and strategies developed in Chicago for cultivating civic action around population health offer a tangible example for other communities that are poised to move from awareness to action.