In the News
Schools and Civic Groups Work Together to Advance Public Health Equity
The California Alliance of Academics and Communities for Public Health Equity, housed at the Public Health Institute, is working with more than 30 schools and universities and civic groups to advance public health equity for disadvantaged communities. The alliance is tackling issues such as ensuring the public health workforce is representative of the communities they serve, addressing and preventing partner and gun violence, community trauma as it relates to climate change, among other issues.
- The Daily Californian
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Focus Areas
Environmental Health, Health Care & Population Health, Healthy Communities -
Issues
Climate Change, Reproductive & Sexual Health, School-based Efforts, Violence Prevention, Wildfires & Extreme Heat, Workforce Development -
Expertise
Coalition & Network Building, Public Policy Advocacy -
Programs
California Alliance of Academics and Communities for Public Health Equity
“The California Alliance of Academics and Communities for Public Health Equity, a coalition that includes the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, works with schools and programs across the state to advance health equity.
Executive director Michael Rodriguez said that the alliance focuses on communities with a history of health disparities and works closely with them. The alliance also works with the community’s governmental organizations such as local health departments and nongovernmental organizations such as climate change civic groups.
The idea is that together they are stronger than individually. By partnering together across a host of different public health issues, the alliance can more effectively be able to help address the many different pressing health issues that we face today and make us more prepared for the future health challenges we may have tomorrow.Michael Rodriguez, MD, MPH
Director, California Alliance of Academics and Communities for Public Health Equity, Public Health Institute
The alliance collaborates with more than 30 different universities, including schools within the UC system, private colleges and schools within the California State University system, according to Rodriguez.
Recognizing that these different programs had a “common desire” to improve public policy, Rodriguez noted that they would be able to achieve more in partnership.
He added that Michael Lu, the dean of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, was a “champion” in helping make this alliance come to fruition. Rodriguez said that Lu is “critical” in executing the coalition’s vision of advancing health equity in California.
(We hope to have) a health system so that all of California benefits, not just those who are privileged and have resources. Everybody has the right to be able to grow up and have the healthiest life that they can in order to be the most effective and productive and happiest person that they can be.Michael Rodriguez, MD, MPH
Director, California Alliance of Academics and Communities for Public Health Equity, Public Health Institute
The alliance is funded by The California Endowment, The California Wellness Foundation, the California Health Care Foundation and the Blue Shield of California Foundation, all of which share similar goals of promoting health equity.”
Click on the link below to read the full article.
Originally published by The Daily Californian
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