Health Equity and Social Justice Tools

 The Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII) has taken a macro-level approach to address the organizational challenges that impact public health departments' ability to effectively address health inequities.

Organizational self assessment is an effective tool for gauging where health departments are already making headway, where there is room for improvement and how they might increase institutional capacity. While there are a wide range of organizational, self assessment tools, we were unable to find one that specifically addressed the factors that had been identified during our brainstorming exercises. The committee retained an organizational development consulting group to weave together public health expertise and organizational development theory into a comprehensive Self Assessment Tool. More »

This report examines the many pathways by which foreclosures are taking a toll on individual and community health. The consequences of the foreclosure crisis spreading most rapidly in low-income communities of color extend well beyond individual families being forced to leave their homes. Neighborhoods pockmarked by vacant housing are struggling with increased crime and violence. Social bonds are broken as families leave the neighborhood, leaving the entire community less prepared to deal with problems. School stability is threatened as families are forced to move out. The report highlights the health impacts of foreclosure and offers strategies to reduce or eliminate foreclosure's negative health outcomes. More »