Online Program

Oral

The National Prevention Strategy aims to guide our nation in the most effective and achievable means for improving health and well-being. It prioritizes prevention by integrating recommendations and actions across multiple settings to improve health and save lives. Led by Surgeon General Vivek Murthy (invited), it is a national model for mobilizing diverse partners to move our health system from one based on sickness and disease to one based on wellness and prevention. The four Strategic Directions embody a “health in all policies” approach to improving health and quality of life by creating health and safe community environments, strengthening clinical and community preventive services, empowering people, and eliminating health disparities. The Surgeon General will set the stage in this session by outlining his vision for strengthening individuals, communities, and country through the National Prevention Strategy. Dr. Ed Ehlinger, President-Elect of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, will be challenging his fellow Health Officials in September 2015 to use their “bully pulpit” to expand the discussion about what creates health and focus attention on creating the conditions necessary for creating optimal health for all. Since 2011, Dr. Ehlinger has led the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) in transforming its public health approach to one that uses a health in all policies methodology with health equity as the goal. To accomplish this, MDH has purposefully worked on changing the narrative about what creates health to include opportunities for health; engaging communities in decision-making to strengthen their capacity to create their own healthy future through partnerships; leveraging the MDH’s resources for convening opportunities, data, resources, education, and advocacy; and promoting a “health in all policies” approach to program and policy development. In this panel discussion, Dr. Ehlinger will share his experiences in Minnesota to promote health equity in all policies, as well as lessons learned and recommendations for other State Health Officials and state health agencies looking to replicate similar activities. In addition to the Surgeon General and Dr. Ed Ehlinger, other panelists will include a university president, and member of the Federal Reserve to outline their perspectives on how a “health in all policies” approach can advance health and health equity.

Session Objectives: Describe one framework for a public health agency to use in advancing a health equity in all policies approach. Identify key tools, strategies, and best practices to promote health equity.