Health and Racial Equity
Description
Over the past several years, the Partnership for a Healthy Durham has taken a more intentional approach to incorporating health and racial equity into its work. In April 2018, Partnership membership voted on a new structure based on the 2017 Community Health Assessment and to further efforts around racial equity and poverty. The goal of these efforts is to create lasting change that will allow for all Durham residents the same opportunity to be healthy.
Partnership Adopts Racial Equity Principles
In October 2019, members voted to adopt racial equity principles developed by the Partnership Racial Equity Task Force. The principles will be incorporated into the committees and work of the Partnership. Over the course of 14 months of work, the Racial Equity Task Force also revised the Partnership mission to include a racial equity lens. During phase II, the Racial Equity Task Force will work with the Steering committee to turn the principles into action.
Partnership Racial Equity Principles
- Cultivate community power and leadership
- Transform inequitable systems using justice and accountability
- Operationalize internal equity
- Connect our humanity
- Admit language and history matter
Read the Partnership racial equity principles and revised Partnership mission and vision.
Link Between Health and Racial Equity
Health inequities are the result of poverty, racism and discrimination. Many communities do not have equal opportunities because of lack of access to factors that have a strong impact on lives such as jobs, education, healthy foods and safe and affordable housing. Research shows that factors such as unemployment, low educational attainment, poor quality housing and environment shape health and play a role in health inequities.
These inequities are caused by practices, policies and legislation to maintain unequal distribution of power, most often affect communities of color. This is why there is an intersection between health and racial inequities.
When some populations within our communities aren’t doing well, everyone is affected. Countries with the greatest inequalities have the lowest life expectancies. Even though some segments of the population are thriving, residents in this country fair worse than those who live in countries with more equity.
Meetings
The Partnership for a Healthy Durham has created a racial equity task force. The time-limited task force will develop racial equity principles for the coalition. Meetings began in July 2018 and will continue until the principles are developed.
2020
June agenda
2021
February agenda minutes
May agenda
Resources
Below are health equity resources and tools for your use.
- Toolkit for Advancing Racial Equity- Compiled by intern Jannah Bierens for her MPH project
- Recommendations to Incorporate Racial Equity into the Partnership and Durham County Department of Public Health-Compiled by intern Jannah Bierens for her MPH project
- Examples of Racial Equity Principles
- Examples of Racial Equity Mission Statements
- Examples of Racial Equity Value Statements
- Government Alliance on Race and Equity