1. A Landscape Analysis:
The Praxis Project

2. What’s the problem? A. People need to know better (Information gap)
B. People need to do better (Behavior/culture gap) OR
C. Our people need better -- power and influence -- and some folk need less
(Power Gap)

3. Reflection: How do power relations shape health today?
What are the impacts we see at the surface?
What are the structures holding up what we see?
What are root causes?

4. Reflection: What would society look like with health justice?
What impacts would we see at the surface?
What kind of structures would we have in place?
What values and systems would be at the foundation?

5. Focus on Individual Responsibility Makes Structures Invisible

6. CCHE: Overview of the Issue: Scope of the Problem & Context
“Children’s health has sunk to its lowest point in [30 years], driven largely by an alarming rise in the number of children who are obese…”
Foundation for Child Development
Child Well-Being Index 2007 Report
Rising Trend in Childhood Obesity:
33% children and youth – 25 Million – are overweight or obese
Obese children at higher risk for heart disease, stroke, asthma, and cancer
Children and families in low income communities and communities of color are disproportionately affected

7. It’s not just what you eat, it’s where you live
Neighborhood Food Environment
Affordable, fresh, healthy food
Built Environment
Safe places to play and move around

8. The Food Industry’s Attack on Children
Children as consumers:
Shop and cook on their own at increasing earlier ages
Eat most meals and snacks away from home
$900M spent annually on children’s TV ads
11 Big Food companies control 2/3 of the TV advertising market for children under age 12

9. Race Matters… People of color are : More likely to be obese
More likely to have diabetes
More likely to not live near a full service food market
More likely to work long hours without job flexibility
More likely to not live near a safe place to exercise

10. WHY?

11. Q: Can we really CHANGE CONDITIONS without Changing Structures?
A: probably not

12. Q: What are social determinants?
The evidence is overwhelming that environments, policies and other social determinants matter
Q: What are social determinants?
A: Housing, education, equality, employment and income, democratic participation and more…

13. What makes a Health Justice approach different?
Traditional Approach
Health Justice Approach
Single issue focus on individual behavior change and “cultural” context
Primary strategies: education and programmatic interventions by professionals targeting those affected
Funding to service providers and researchers
TA delivery is “vertical” and short term and static
Multi-issue focus on policy and environmental change that takes into account social contexts shaped by racism, sexism, privilege, power, etc.
Primary strategies: organizing, media and policy advocacy by those affected targeting decisionmakers
Funding to community organizing, advocacy and research to change power relations, the environment
“Circular” TA support: mutual, long term relationships; movement building approach

14. Q: Where do we begin?
A: Developing strategies and infrastructures that support healthy communities including movement building for health justice.

15. Money and Power Who decides? Who was left out? Who has influence?
Who got paid?

16. Policies
Laws leading up to and resulting to the current policy/proposals
Administrative rulemaking/Regulations
Processes
More or less transparency and engagement?

17. Social impact Privilege Pain
Disaggregate to show the patterns/systems of unfairness

18. What does the landscape look like where I am?
reflection
What does the landscape look like where I am?

19. Fulcrums for Transformation
Building Democracy and Power
Building Capacity for New Practice
Just Outcomes
Addressing Problems and Needs

20. Thank you!
Visit our site to learn more including info on training and funding opportunities.
The Praxis Project