CityMatCH/NACCHO E-MCH Audio Conference January 20, 2005 MCH and Social Justice Wendell Brunner Director of Public Health Contra Costa Health Services Contra Costa, CA

oThe application of science to the promotion of community health. oThe intersection of science, health, and politics. Definitions of Public Health

The application of science to the promotion of social justice. Definitions of Public Health

Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative “It is our mission to transform public health practice for the purpose of eliminating health inequities using a broad spectrum of approaches that create healthy communities.” The Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII) is an association of public health directors, health officers, senior managers, and staff from six Bay Area public health departments – Alameda, Berkeley, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo. The goals of the group are to:  Place health inequities, including chronic disease prevention, on the agenda of local health departments in California;  Develop a regional alliance of public health departments to support activities around health inequities; and,  Use the issue of health inequities to illuminate the environmental and social determinants of health and to expand public debate about disparities, and the policies and programs required to eliminate them.

Adapted from the State University of New Jersey Rutgers LADDER OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION Funding of community groups to implement projects; Meetings called jointly by government and citizen groups Established mechanisms such as advisory committees Community Power Power- Sharing Consult 2 Consult 1 Inform Government Power Community members act without communicating with government Community members and government solve problems together Government asks community members for meaningful regular input Government asks community members for occasional or limited input Government talks; listens to the community Government acts without community input Community member investigation Community member development and implementation of programs Community organizes and advocates for government response Partnerships and collaborations Community oversight and monitoring; Education and general skill building Community informal meetings; On-going dialogue; Some public hearings Education and training on health issues Town hall or other meetings Most public hearings; Focus groups Some advisory and task forces Surveys, questionnaires, suggestion box Some public meetings; Press releases Informational strategies:such as newsletters, brochures, etc. Educational campaigns Investigations; such as health surveillance Legal and enforcement actions Emergency response Adapted From: THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY RUTGERS Environmental Communication Research Program A program of the Agricultural Experiment Station Cook College-122Ryderslane-New Brunswick-NewJersey08903–201/

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