Name
COVID-19: Using A Public Health Crisis To Build Health Equity
Date & Time
Thursday, April 29, 2021, 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM
Jessica Nguyen, MCP, MPH Cristal Little
Description

When a pandemic breaks out, how can the power of public health be used to protect residents' health and economic needs? BARHII, the coalition of San Francisco Bay Area public health departments, worked together with health equity leaders, philanthropic donors, researchers, and community organizers to pass emergency eviction protections during a catastrophic statewide surge in unemployment due to COVID-19. This campaign built on years of work in reframing housing as a public health issue, and a recognition that social determinants of health like housing and employment have as great an impact on health as exposure to disease. This in-depth case study will demonstrate how to leverage regional public health partnerships to create equity across a wide variety of jurisdictions and political environments, and how to build a platform to address multiple intersecting needs simultaneously during a crisis, through policies like paid leave, cash aid, and support for the re-entry community.

Learning Objectives:

  • The BARHII Social Determinants of Health Equity framework
  • Community organizing strategies to build power to respond quickly to disaster
  • The Picnic Basket-Quilt-Pogo Stick method
Session Type
Concurrent Case Study Session
Community Organizing
Health & Nutrition