Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Article Title

Development, Implementation, and Assessment of Health Equity Action Training (HEAT): Implications for Local Health Departments

Authors

Karen A. D'Angelo, Hispanic Health CouncilFollow
Carmen Chaparro, City of Hartford Department of Health & Human Services Health Equity Alliance ProjectFollow
Rita Kornblum, City of Hartford Department of Health & Human Services Health Equity Alliance ProjectFollow
Grace Damio, Hispanic Health CouncilFollow
Rafael Pérez-Escamilla, Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Office of Public Health Practice, Yale School of Public HealthFollow

Keywords

health equity; health disparitites; workforce development; cultural competency

Disciplines

Public Health

Abstract

As inequities in health persistently plague our nation, rates of chronic disease continue to escalate, and increasing health care costs further debilitate our economy, the profession of public health is faced with monumental challenges. As a central community health institution, the local public health department plays an essential role in eliminating health inequities and preventing chronic disease. With the objective of preparing the local public health workforce to address the root factors associated with health, the Health Equity Action Training project trained 85 staff of the Hartford Department of Health & Human Services in the social determinants of health, social inequities, undoing racism, and cultural competency. Satisfaction results and pre/post assessments with a subsample of participants suggest that this training was effective at improving participants’ health equity attitudes, knowledge, and skills. Implications for local health departments are discussed.

Recommended Citation

D'Angelo, Karen A.; Chaparro, Carmen; Kornblum, Rita; Damio, Grace; and Pérez-Escamilla, Rafael (2013) "Development, Implementation, and Assessment of Health Equity Action Training (HEAT): Implications for Local Health Departments," Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice: Vol. 6: Iss. 2, Article 2.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/jhdrp/vol6/iss2/2