Toward health equity: Practical actions for public health inspectors
Environmental health practitioners, including public health inspectors (PHIs) and environmental health officers (EHOs), have a role to play when it comes to addressing the social determinants of health (SDH) and working toward health equity, but that role is not always clear. Practitioners can use these two tools to reflect on their current practice and identify practical actions that can be taken in their day-to-day work or broader program planning.
This framework outlines 10 considerations for action by individual practitioners to help them apply the broader concepts of SDH and health equity to their practice, understand how health equity work fits into their own region or organization, and work with others to support health equity. The framework highlights points of action at different levels within a public health organization, and can be used by staff with any degree of knowledge or experience related to health equity.
The accompanying user guide identifies three main audiences and outlines potential points of influence for practitioners, who can use the tool in different ways depending on the scope and responsibilities of their position. Together, these tools encourage reflective practice, collaborative approach, and action at multiple levels.
Use this resource to:
- Start a conversation about the role of environmental public health practitioners in building organizational capacity to address the SDH and health equity
- Identify skills and knowledge necessary for PHIs and EHOs to support action on SDH and health equity
- Consider points of influence to shift practice beyond day-to-day activities
- Set tangible goals for shorter- and longer-term action on health equity
References:
User guide
Rideout, K., & National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (2016). Toward health equity: Practical actions for public health inspectors – Framework for action on the social determinants of health and health equity. User Guide. Vancouver, BC: National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control; Antigonish, NS: National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health, St. Francis Xavier University.
Framework
Rideout, K., & National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (2016). Toward health equity: Practical actions for public health inspectors – Framework for action on the social determinants of health and health equity. Vancouver, BC: National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control; Antigonish, NS: National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health, St. Francis Xavier University.
Tags: Environmental health, Healthy public policy, Intersectoral action, Participate in policy development, Partner with other sectors, Other National Collaborating Centre, Document, Tool