Topic Areas:

Manuscript Keywords:

Health and Medicine —Public Health and Prevention Health and Medicine —Policy, Reviews and Evaluations

Community Keywords:

health equity, community action,

Why is this useful?

This very long document was produced by the National Academies of Science, a relatively reputable institution. Using primarily evidence based resources, it discusses how and why health equity is crucial for the well-being of communities. It explains determinants of health, including upstream, societal factors that contribute to health disparities, including social, economic, environmental, and structural factors (including poverty, structural racism, and discrimination). The document also explains, from the authors perspectives, how communities have agency to promote health equity, and that community-based solutions are necessary but not sufficient. They describe examples and models where public and private policies along with diverse multi-sector collaboration can support community action, and are necessary in order to promote health equity. It's the type of article that could be a good reference in a grant application.

Citation:

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/24624.

Abstract:

Outline provided in the summary: Health equity is crucial for the well-being and vibrancy of communities. The United States pays the high price of health inequity in lost lives, potential, and resources. (Chapters 1 and 2) Health is a product of multiple determinants. Social, economic, environmental, and structural factors and their unequal distribution matter more than health care in shaping health disparities. (Chapter 3) Health inequities are in large part a result of poverty, structural racism, and discrimination. (Chapter 3) Communities have agency to promote health equity. However, community-based solutions are necessary but not sufficient. (Chapters 4 and 5) Supportive public and private policies at all levels and programs facilitate community action (infrastructure of policies, funding, political will, etc.). (Chapter 6) The collaboration and engagement of new and diverse (multi-sector) partners is essential to promoting health equity. (Chapter 7) Tools and other resources exist to translate knowledge into action to promote health equity. (Chapter 8) Conclusion (Chapter 9) National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/24624.

Authors:

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Committee on Community-Based Solutions to Promote Health Equity in the United States; James N. Weinstein, Amy Geller, Yamrot Negussie, and Alina Baciu, Editors

Share this Resource:


Join a Conversation (Thoughts, Questions, Concerns, Comments, etc)

Powered by Community

© Science and Community Action Network scican.org

info@scican.org
(323) 209-5561