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Learning from Practice: Advocacy for health equity – Hamilton Public Health Services

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This document is part of the "Learning from Practice" Series


In collaboration with other areas of local government and community groups, Hamilton Public Health has been advocating for health equity through its efforts to support initiatives such as basic income guarantee, food security and the Canada Learning Bond for low income residents.

This paper highlights three main roles that public health professionals at Hamilton Public Health took as part of their advocacy for health equity. These roles are described in Let’s Talk: Advocacy and Health Equity.

Role 1 Framing the issue:  In Hamilton Public Health, social determinants of health (SDOH) nurses used a framing strategy that targeted specific populations and issues.

Role 2  Gathering and disseminating data:  SDOH nurses used population health surveillance data to reveal where the inequities in the community existed.

Role 3  Working in collaboration and developing alliances: Hamilton Public Health worked closely with internal public health partners—including staff working directly with clients and Medical Officers of Health—as well as with community-based organizations and all levels of government.

Use this resource to:

  • Integrate an advocacy approach into your health equity activities
  • Develop a health equity framework or strategy for your organization
  • Support a conversation in your organization about how to create a safe space for moving advocacy actions further upstream toward structural change

Other Resources in this Series:

  1. Learning from Practice: Advocacy for health equity - Environmental racism
  2. Learning from Practice: Advocacy for health equity - Generation Squeeze
  3. Learning from Practice: Advocacy for health equity - Food security


Related resources:

Let’s Talk: Advocacy and health equity

Key public health resources for advocacy and health equity: A curated list

 


Reference

National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health. (2016). Learning from Practice: Advocacy for health equity – Hamilton Public Health Services. Antigonish, NS: National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health, St. Francis Xavier University.

Tags: Community engagement, Healthy public policy, Intersectoral action, Leadership & capacity building, Working conditions, Assess and report, Modify and orient interventions, Participate in policy development, Partner with other sectors, Document, Case Study, Learning from Practice