Health Equity Solutions

Health Equity Solutions' 2021 policy priorities are steps toward health equity in Connecticut. The inequities in our state are not new and it’s time that we implement proven pathways to addressing them. The pandemic’s disproportionate toll on people of color and the outcry to dismantle racism in Connecticut and across our nation highlight the need to act now. These priorities were informed by 8 listening sessions across Connecticut, with a total of 92 participants from 37 towns/cities.

To inform our 2021 legislative agenda, Health Equity Solutions conducted 8 listening sessions across Connecticut, with a total of 92 participants from 37 towns/cities. After a brief introduction, participants were assigned to break out rooms to discuss the issues they saw as most important when thinking of health equity and health care. Participants then presented a summary to the whole group and took a poll to mark their top three priorities among all topics discussed.

We have compiled articles, podcasts, and tools highlighting racism is a public health crisis in Connecticut. Please reach out to Samantha Lew, slew@hesct.org to add to this list!

Connecticut’s federally funded effort to introduce primary care innovations (through the State Innovation Model or SIM grant) is entering its final years of implementation. In the coming months, the state will present and finalize its proposals (to review and comment on proposals as they are released, see here). Right now is an opportune time to ensure these proposals can transform Connecticut’s health system to promote equity by investing in prevention and addressing social and economic factors that make some in our state far less healthy than others. This blog first appeared on Community Catalyst's Health Policy Hub written by Eva Maria Stahl, with contributing guest bloggers Tekisha Dwan Everette of Health Equity Solutions and Karen Siegel of Connecticut Voices for Children. It may also be found at https://www.communitycatalyst.org/blog/connecticut-strives-for-primacy-of-health-equity-in-primary-care#.W5FM3_ZFy3B

Health Equity Solutions is working with partners across the state to promote policies that expand the uniform collection of race, ethnicity and language data to inform health system change and improve health equity.

Our vision at Health Equity Solutions is for every Connecticut resident to obtain optimal health regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. However, one of the challenges in ensuring health equity is identifying those whose lives are impacted by inequity and health disparities.

Did you know there is legislation to statutorily define community health workers in Connecticut? SB 126, introduced by Senator Terry Gerratana, is critical legislation that would support and expand the use of community health workers in cities and towns across Connecticut.

In 2016, we started our campaign to advocate for an end to health inequities in Connecticut, but our fight has just begun. According to the America's County Health Rankings, Connecticut ranks 42nd in health disparities. We can do better than that. The election results in November also exhibited the challenges ahead. With the Affordable Care Act in jeopardy and Medicaid cuts on the horizon, we have to double our efforts. We can’t stand by while hundreds of thousands of Connecticut families lose their access to the health care that is keeping them alive. We can’t afford to go backward when there is so much at stake...

Last week, Connecticut residents had a tremendous emotional reaction to the change that is coming in government. Whether it was joy or sadness, the resounding feeling was that something big had happened. Over the course of this week, I pondered what it will mean for our mission at Health Equity Solutions. In short, I cannot think of a more important time to bring awareness of health inequities and offer innovative solutions to address them. Here’s why:...