Integrating Health Equity Into Practice and Policy

Achieving health equity across all population groups is a goal that will require vision and commitment from all sectors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a central role to play in this undertaking. In 2014, the Health Disparities Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee to the Director of the CDC made a series of recommendations to achieve health equity: (1) develop a CDC framework for action to achieve health equity; (2) identify and monitor indicators of health equity; (3) align universal interventions that promote better public health with more targeted, culturally tailored interventions in communities at highest risk; (4) support rigorous evaluation of all programs and interventions; (5) build community capacity to implement and sustain programs; and (6) support training and professional development of the workforce. These recommendations may serve as a useful blueprint for achieving health equity by state and local health agencies or other organizations.