Good Governance

Building health equity into governance

Laws and policies are powerful tools for making our communities healthier and more equitable. A good governance process is inclusive, transparent, and effective, and fosters a clear understanding of policy landscapes, local resources, and potential partnerships. Our resources explain the essentials of public health law and policy that can help create meaningful, lasting change in your community.

Get started with the resources we've highlighted below, and learn more about all of our areas of work.

Blueprint for Health Equity

Changing existing laws and policies is the most effective method for undoing the harms of discriminatory policies and advancing health equity. This resource presents legal strategies to help policymakers and communities improve health outcomes.

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Structural discrimination Redline Feature

Undoing the Drivers of Health Inequity

Explore this web tool to learn practical ways to address five fundamental drivers of health inequity. Access policy strategies, key resources, and success stories from communities and partnerships.

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Equitable Enforcement

Equitable enforcement ensures compliance with laws and policies while minimizing harms to people affected by health inequities. These resources will help policymakers incorporate equitable enforcement principles and practices.

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Understanding Legal Authority to Address Social Determinants of Health

Improving Social Determinants of Health

This suite of resources, tailored to help health departments improve SDOH, will help them understand public health authority, confront misinformation, assess their readiness to use law and policy tools, and conduct equitable community engagement.

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Public Health Law Academy

The Public Health Law Academy, supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides a deeper understanding of the use of law and policy to improve population health outcomes.

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Preemption

Preemption occurs when a higher level of government limits or eliminates the power of a lower level of government to regulate a specific issue. Learn how preemption affects public health.

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Public Health Authority

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, backlash against public health authority is significantly limiting the ability of public health officials to do their job. Our resources make the case for supporting public health departments and suggest action steps.

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Rural Policymaking

Rural communities have unique strengths and varied histories that require a tailored approach to policymaking. Our legal and policy resources can help rural communities advance racial equity and rural prosperity.