Advancing Health Equity, Racial Equity, and Social Justice

Impact Brief CEO Message – February 2023

Black History Month is an annual celebration that recognizes the history, culture, and contributions of Black Americans. Although we certainly don’t need an awareness holiday to embrace and honor Black history, this month is an opportunity to reconcile with the past, pave the way for a more just future, and celebrate all the amazing figures who have taken their place in the annals of Black History.

The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors recognizes that Black history is everyone’s history, and in that spirit and to respond to that call to action, we will continue to learn, to reflect, and to advance racial equity, health equity, and social justice wherever and whenever we can.

Here are a few highlights from action taken over the last year to advance health equity, racial equity, and social justice.

  • NACDD is proud to announce the launch of its Center for Justice in Public Health. The Center was created to ensure social justice becomes a cornerstone of public health and to embed equitable strategies in NACDD policy, practice, and partnerships. We realize the promise of public health cannot be realized until we address the inequities within systems and structures. Stay tuned for more information about the Center and its work in the next few months.
  • NACDD updated our Strategic Map to reflect the Association’s commitment to racial equity, health equity and social justice. We also updated our Vision and Mission to reflect the same.
  • We hosted the Thought Leader Roundtable “Closing the Gaps: From Wealth to Health” in Washington, DC in November 2022.
  • We funded six organizations $50,000 to improve cardiovascular health and advance health equity in support of Million Hearts ® 2027.
  • The NACDD Health Equity Council released the Health Equity Primer, which provides action steps to begin or advance work in organizational health equity.
  • NACDD and CDC is hosting a Learning Series on Health Equity & Social Determinants of Health: Session 1: How bi-directional and multi-directional e-referrals can help address SDOH-related needs. View the webinar slides and resource document. Watch Part 1 recording and Part 2 recording.
  • The NACDD Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Alliance partnered with the Racial Equity Group to conduct a racial equity, diversity, and inclusion assessment with NACDD staff.
  • Our 7th Annual Public Health Programs Success Showcase, “From Prevention to Transformation in Public Health: How States Advance Social Determinants of Health to Improve Equity and Social Justice,” featured more than 60 projects from our program portfolio, many with a focus on health equity. View the posters.
  • General Member Webinars discussed “making upstream mainstream,” (Part 1 and Part 2) and Addressing Systemic Racism in Clinical Preventive Services.
  • Several GEAR Group topics focused on equity, including “Using Data to Promote Equity in Policy and Programming” and “Not Racist is Not Enough: Journey Towards Anti-Racism.”
  • NACDD released the 2023 Sowing Seeds of Health Justice Membership Guide.
  • The Health Equity Council book club read the following books in 2022:
    • The Source of Self-Regard by Toni Morrison
    • Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
  • Robyn Taylor, Senior Director of Health Equity wrote a blog post about the CROWN Act.
  • We celebrated Juneteenth.
  • Emmy Award Winning Filmmaker Loki Mulholland provided a live screening and facilitated discussion of The Uncomfortable Truth at the 2022 NACDD Chronic Disease Academy in Chicago.
View Our Health Equity Resources to Support Your Learning in Anti-Racism

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