Health equity indicators for Ontario local public health agencies
Where health status indicators measure the level of health inequity in a population, the “organizational action indicators” mentioned in this report measure the process of health equity work happening within a public health agency (but not the impact on population health). The goal of this user guide is to support organizations in assessing how well they are meeting their health equity mandate through identifying equity related activity in programs and services, where gaps in action are and improvements made over time.
The document is presented in five sections that align with the four public health roles for improving health equity developed by the NCCDH, in addition to a fifth role developed by the research team.
- Assessing and reporting on health status
- Modifying and re-orienting public health programs
- Engaging in community and multi-sector collaboration
- Leading, supporting and participating with others to address policies
- Developing organizations and systems
Each indicator is accompanied by resources and references. A glossary of terms is included, along with a series of worksheets to support the practical application of the indicators.
This document was developed by Public Health Ontario’s Locally Driven Collaborative Project (LDCP) to support public health organizations in Ontario in taking action to address the health equity mandate outlined in the Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS). Use of these indicators can support public health practitioners across Canada to assess and improve actions at an organizational level to address population health inequities.
Use this resource to
- facilitate a discussion about how health equity is placed as a priority in your public health organization;
- determine current health equity actions being taken in your organization and where improvements can be made;
- develop program and evaluation plans to assess steps being taken to address population health inequities; and
- identify facilitators and barriers to health equity work in your public health organization.
Reference
Public Health Ontario. (2016). Health equity indicators for Ontario local public health agencies: User guide. Public Health Ontario.
Related resources
- The Path Taken: Developing organizational capacity for improving health equity in four Ontario health units (2015)
- Advancing provincial and territorial public health capacity for health equity: proceedings (2015)
- Public health speaks: the power of people and systems (2014)
- Public health speaks: organizational standards as a promising practice for health equity (2013)
- Building a culture of equity in Canadian public health: An environmental scan (2018)
Tags: Competencies & organizational standards, Intersectoral action, Leadership & capacity building, Assess and report, Modify and orient interventions, Public Health Organization, Report / Document