Consilience Group and NACCHO: Strengthening Health Equity in Local Health Departments
Consilience Group and NACCHO initiatives with local health departments
Consilience Group is working with the National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO) to provide training and technical assistance (TTA) to help local health departments (LHDs) and their partners build health equity capacity. This initiative is part of the CDC’s National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities (CDC-RFA-OT21-2103). It aims to reduce health disparities related to COVID-19, improve testing and contact tracing, and enhance the capacity of state, local, and territorial health departments. The goal is to strengthen LHDs’ knowledge and capabilities in advancing health equity, focusing on supporting underserved populations, including racial minorities and rural communities.
Addressing COVID-19 Health Disparities in Local Health Departments
The COVID-19 pandemic was perhaps the greatest test of the American healthcare system to date. Through managing this unprecedented crisis, critical gaps in our healthcare system were revealed from top to bottom. Every day we are learning new ways we can make crucial amendments to improve our person-centered care and galvanize partnerships across the healthcare ecosystem. Consilience Group’s work with NACCHO to build the capacity of our LHDs will help bridge the gap between our healthcare systems and our most vulnerable populations.
Building Health Equity Capacity for Local Health Departments
Health equity is at the core of Consilience Group’s mission. This work aligns perfectly with the firm’s mission of advancing health equity through promoting person-centered and inclusive systems. By supporting LHDs in applying ethical frameworks that center the voice of underserved and marginalized populations and establish shared community values, Consilience Group leverages its expertise in systems transformation to help health departments create sustainable, equitable practices. Additionally, this work underscores the importance of addressing systemic inequities that have persisted for decades and were exacerbated by COVID-19, a core focus of the firm’s consulting work.
Building capacity within LHDs to apply ethics in health equity decision-making mirrors Consilience Group’s commitment to developing inclusive public health strategies that benefit entire communities. The opportunity to develop frameworks and resources directly addresses the firm’s goal of fostering long-term change through practical, people-centered solutions. Lastly, assisting LHDs in establishing ethical infrastructures reinforces Consilience Group’s vision of promoting transparency, accountability, and justice in health systems, ensuring equitable outcomes for all.