The second edition of the Health Equity Guide for Public Health Practitioners and Partners is intended to support practitioners and partners engagement in multifaceted approaches to addressing health equity. The guide focuses on place-based, clinical, and policy-oriented strategies, as well as research, evaluation, and leadership. The guide has been updated to facilitate the translation of the latest evidence into practice, and present new strategies and tools for practitioners and partners. This edition also deliberately highlights persistent racial health inequities, and serves as a call-to-action for all of us to work purposefully to close these gaps that negatively impact the health of entire communities in our state.

Background

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), the University of Delaware’s School of Public Policy & Administration, and other partners created the Health Equity Guide for Public Health Practitioners and Partners  to help Delawareans better understand tools and strategies that promote health equity and support upstream population health approaches. The 179-page document is designed to assist all sectors which can include but are not limited to government, education, workplaces, private sector, nonprofit agencies, faith based institutions, and health care settings address underlying causes of health inequities in communities and promote optimal health for all in Delaware.

Our overall health is strongly influenced by where we live, learn, work, play and pray. It is also heavily influenced by your income level, education, and health care services. Our culture, language, political and religious beliefs, social norms and attitudes, and the rates of poverty, crime, and violence also affect our health. Delaware can achieve greater health equity as its environmental, social, and economic conditions improve.

The Division of Public Health (DPH) is working with many community leaders, non-profit organizations, other state agencies, and stakeholders to address health equity issues within our state and improve overall health for Delawareans. By engaging in healthy behaviors and improving environmental and social conditions, there is less risk of disease, disability, and injury. In order for this to occur, we all need to ensure that the healthy choice is not just the easy choice, but that it is also a possible choice within communities. The guide show cases existing evidence-based practices, tools and resources that can assist Delawareans to reach their full health potential and improve their overall quality of life.

DPH contracted with the University Of Delaware (UD) to develop the guide with the purpose of increasing awareness of DPH staff and other partners across the state and bring us closer together to address health equity issues in Delaware. This guide explores the major themes, frameworks, and approaches regarding health equity, all while keeping the context of Delaware in mind. The Health Equity Guide for Public Health Practitioners and Partners shares evidence-based and promising strategies, and provides numerous references and web links for additional information.

We proudly present the final product and can provide technical assistance and support.

Using the Guide

Everyone, no matter what sector you work within, can utilize the guide to prioritize health equity in their overall work.

Health inequities are historically entrenched and pervasive, but they are not insurmountable. We can be most effective by transforming our collective thinking from a perspective focused on treatment of the individual, to one that focuses on prevention, health, and wellness of the broader population. The guide provides a call to action for all of us to make fundamental shifts in our approaches.

The Guide was developed to be adaptable to all types of audiences – from academicians to grass roots community groups – and includes digestible strategies which highlight Delaware specific and national examples. The Guide is best utilized as an electronic file due to the inclusion of hyperlinks.

To acquire a limited number of printed copies, call the DPH Community Health office.

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Please note: Some of the files available on this page are in Adobe PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. A free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded directly from Adobe . If you are using an assistive technology unable to read Adobe PDF, please either view the corresponding text only version (if available) or visit Adobe's Accessibility Tools page.