Let’s Talk: Health equity
This installment of the Let’s Talk series introduces key concepts related to health equity and guides public health action to reduce inequities. This document replaces the 2013 resource Let’s Talk: Health equity.
The Let’s Talk Series is a collection of resources designed to promote discussion and understanding of how key concepts in health equity apply in public health practice. Each resource contains discussion questions to spark dialogue, reflection, and action to address the social determinants of health.
Let’s Talk: Redistributing power to advance health equity
Power imbalance is a root cause of health inequities. This installment of the Let’s Talk Series guides recognition and analysis of power imbalance in public health. It also gives examples of how to deploy strategies to both build community power and limit the power of those who benefit from inequity.
Let’s Talk: Language of health equity
This installment of the Let’s Talk series explores foundational principles of inclusive health equity language, how power and culture are baked into language, and terminology options that are inclusive and anti-stigmatizing.
Let’s Talk: Intersectionality
Intersectionality moves us from one dimensional understandings of discrimination and marginalization to the multifaceted roots of injustice. This Let’s Talk defines intersectionality and what it means for public health. It helps readers avoid flattening or whitening intersectionality and instead use it for transformative change.
Let’s Talk: Community engagement for health equity
Defines community engagement for health equity and encourages viewing community members as stakeholders and partners in public health decision-making
Let’s Talk: Whiteness and health equity
Introduces the concept of Whiteness to public health audiences
Let’s Talk: Values and health equity
Positions values as structural drivers of health equity, influencing priorities and action and at the individual, organizational and societal levels
Let’s Talk: Ethical foundations of equity
Explores justice as the ethical basis of health equity.
Let’s talk: Racism and health equity
Encourages public health practitioners to act on racism as a key structural determinant of health inequities.
Let’s Talk: Advocacy and health equity
Highlights the importance of advocacy as both a strategy and practice within public health, and describes the different ways advocacy can contribute to addressing the social determinants of health and improving health equity.
Let’s Talk: Moving upstream
Describes how public health works at three levels- downstream, midstream, and upstream – to improve everyone’s chance for good health.
Let’s Talk: Public health roles for improving health equity
Offers public health organizations a framework for reflection and action.
Let’s Talk: Universal and targeted approaches to health equity
Explores the approaches public health organizations use to close the gap between the most and least healthy and reduce inequities all along the socio-economic status gradient.