Image Above: Speaking about racial equity at a meeting for Public Health directors at The CA Endowment
What We Do?
We work with teams to support them in achieving success and removing barriers. Primarily, the work is centered in helping Public Health departments increase their capacity to improve health outcomes by deepening their understanding of health equity values, principles, practices, and policies. In the past decade, there has been a significant shift in Public Health departments' movement away from individually focused interventions and measures, and more toward understanding systemic and institutional factors that impact health outcomes. More recently, there's been a willingness to gain a deeper understanding of how racial and income inequality have contributed to poor health outcomes. There has also been an increased willingness by organizations to reach beyond the institution to form broad and meaningful alliances and collaborations with community partners, business leaders, philanthropists, academic institutions, and the like.
While there is interest and commitment to this movement, there is also often a lack of clarity on effectively bridging these unions. There may also be historical and institutional patterns that may need to be addressed in building new and authentic relationships. Our job is to serve as a guide in uncovering ways to move through some of these often-thorny, new ways of doing business.
While there is interest and commitment to this movement, there is also often a lack of clarity on effectively bridging these unions. There may also be historical and institutional patterns that may need to be addressed in building new and authentic relationships. Our job is to serve as a guide in uncovering ways to move through some of these often-thorny, new ways of doing business.
How We Do?
Ultimately, our goal is to partner with individuals and organizations to support them in achieving their goals. This is accomplished through a series of interventions, including conducting uniquely tailored trainings, supporting emerging leadership through coaching, offering consultations, and through speaking engagements. While some benefits are gained from one-time interventions, long-term impact often requires successive interventions. Some of the ways we serve include sharing promising practices that can make a difference in accomplishing goals, discovering new research that could support evolving strategies, and framing the narrative in ways that others both understand and see themselves as critical allies. While there may be a vision for a desired outcome, often the pathway to getting there may be cloudy. New approaches may be introduced.
For example, a trend that has gained significant traction includes the value of reaching out to partners not usually at the table. Cross-sector interventions build momentum. The willingness of organizations to connect across boundaries is a step toward greater impact. Rarely, can one single intervention address the range of issues community members face in their everyday lives. For example, many successful obesity-related programs involve schools where many children eat two meals daily. The quality of food served has a direct influence on a child’s health. Similarly, easy access to playgrounds and safe playground equipment is equally important. While this may appear to be a "no brainer," successfully addressing these issues in community or school settings may not be so easy. Getting neighborhood stores to sell healthier foods and convincing city government that resources are needed to improve community health may require long-term involvement.
Guiding organizations on ways to move this agenda forward and linking them with others who have tackled similar challenges is one way that we can offer support.
Mildred, you are my she-ro! When I stepped away from 34 years of county employment in March 2019, I will remember how you exemplify the model of one who is "refired," not simply retired, paying forward from a wealth of experience, and sowing good seed to bear much fruit in communities in great need! Thank you for your generosity in sharing the wisdom you've gained, keeping us on task, and always keeping it real!"
-Dale Fleming, Director of Strategy and Innovation, San Diego County Health and Human Services