Vote for Health: Promoting Civic Engagement for Better Health
Your voice, and your vote, are vital for shaping healthier communities. This blog post explores the connections between democracy and health, as well as ways to promote civic engagement.
Civic infrastructure and civic participation vital to healthy communities
Well-resourced civic infrastructure and active civic participation can improve health. Both allow communities to tap the collective knowledge, wisdom, and action priorities of residents. Strengthening democratic processes and assuring access to civic and voter participation is necessary to advance health and racial equity.
Five Ways to Engage in a Health in All Policies Mindset
With the lingering spotlight cast on the public health community due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that public health practitioners use their voices to advocate for social justice in public policy. Here are some tips on how to continue to apply a Health in All Policies mindset to your practice, and how to model it for others.
Bridging the Gap: Telehealth, Broadband, and Equity in Healthcare Access
The COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted telehealth’s potential, but revealed a stark reality: 14.5 million Americans lack broadband access, disproportionately affecting rural and tribal communities. Telehealth offers hope, but its promise is hindered by access inequities. Recognizing broadband as a crucial determinant of health, policymakers are acting, ranging from state-level initiatives to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. However, broadband expansion is just the beginning. Achieving healthcare equity demands policy reforms, workforce training, and collaboration. The pandemic taught us that telehealth is transformative, but its benefits must reach every corner of our nation, leaving no one behind in the pursuit of health and equity.
But First, Health First Indiana
Health First Indiana is an initiative created by Senate Enrolled Act 4, legislation passed by the 2023 Indiana General Assembly that will transform Indiana’s public health infrastructure. The legislation provides funding so local health departments (LHDs) can determine the health needs of their community and implement evidence-based programs focused on prevention. Health First Indiana establishes a public health infrastructure through a state and local partnership where services are delivered at the county level. Counties decide whether to opt-in to the new funding to provide and/or expand upon the core public health services, including trauma and injury prevention, chronic disease prevention, maternal and child health, and more.
Community Engagement in Root Cause Analysis for Policy/Advocacy in Public Health
Engaging and including community partners to address public health root causes may require a complete paradigm shift.