INSIGHT & INSPIRATION FROM APHA’S 2012 MIDYEAR MEETING

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Survive All In This Friends Prevention, Strategies
& Thrive Together For Health Opportunity & Equity for Health
“If we say we’re interested in promoting the health equity agenda, it only makes sense that we
actually do something to narrow the gap,” she told attendees.
Here’s an example of how Boston public health workers are doing things differently. The commission
began working in five neighborhoods with the highest rates of violence, providing
funds so that community-based groups can hire community organizers and block captains. The
community workers engage residents, connect people to support services and work to make
improvements in the built environment. To facilitate the last point, leaders from various city
departments meet regularly with each group about fixing problems that residents have identified,
such as broken-down buildings and littered playgrounds. The process results in immediate
gains in the built environment, said Ferrer, who added that the effort is based on “engaging
residents who are there to come up with their own plans for building a culture of peace.”
Ferrer said one of the biggest vehicles for change has been policy, adding that “we can, in fact,
change the landscape.” For instance, in 1999, about 85 percent of dumpster storage lots, junkyards
and transfer stations were located in communities of color. So in 2001, the local board of
health passed a regulation requiring all such facilities be inspected and permitted. Ten years
later, the number of such businesses has dropped dramatically and fewer than 40 percent
remain in neighborhoods of color.
“It’s not how can we promote healthy behavior; it’s how do we target dangerous conditions and
reorganize land-use policies and transportation policies,” Ferrer said. “It’s not how to reduce
disparities and the distribution of illness; it’s how to eliminate inequities in the distribution
of resources and power. It’s not what social programs and services are needed; it’s what kind
of social change is needed to really make lasting change. It’s not how can individuals protect
themselves against health disparities; it’s what kind of community organizing and alliance
building and partnerships do we need to create that would actually protect our communities.”
From session 1003, Achieving Health Equity: Solutions from the Field, June 26
STEPS FOR ACTION:
• ENGAGE communities in
culturally competent ways
so that they will become
supporters of strong public
health systems.
• COLLECT the data
and stories that not only
illustrate the value of public
health in improving people’s
health, but its critical role
in curbing medical costs.
Americans value prevention,
but it’s up to us to show
people why public health is
worth the money.
• ZERO in on social justice
and the environmental
conditions that contribute to
poor health and premature
mortality. Recognize that
eliminating health inequities
takes looking beyond
traditional public health
services.