Supporting Equitable Community Engagement

Why is community engagement essential for improving public health and reducing health inequities?

State health departments have a strong influence in shaping how local health departments engage with communities. However, research and interviews with state and local health departments revealed that among the many community engagement resources available, few are tailored to the public health context and health departments' wide-ranging involvement in programs, services, and policies.

With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we designed this resource to help state health departments better understand the importance of equitable and inclusive community engagement in their work to address SDOH and promote the health and well-being of all their residents. This guide also explains the roles and activities that state health departments can pursue to support local health departments’ community engagement efforts.