Laws and policies that shape the distribution of resources are key levers for improving community health outcomes. To help state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments advance their essential work of addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) through law and policy change, ChangeLab Solutions has designed the Health Department Assessment & Roadmap.
By gauging an organization’s readiness to use law and policy to address the root causes of inequities and then offering suggested activities for improvement, the assessment and roadmap offer an effective approach for expanding organizational capacity to address health equity across five priority areas:
- Institutional commitment
- Staff competence in SDOH
- Partnerships and engagement
- Data for action
- Framing and communication
Your health department or program can complete a comprehensive assessment in all five priority areas or download sections individually to focus on one or more key areas of growth. After completing the assessment, use the readiness roadmap of suggested activities to reflect on new strategies for incorporating SDOH, equity, law, and policy into your work.
This publication, developed with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is part of a suite of resources tailored to the specific needs of health departments, based on ChangeLab Solutions' literature reviews and interviews with public health practitioners.
8/27/2024
