Public policy plays a vital role in creating conditions that improve health and address the social determinants of health (SDOH) fundamental to health equity. It ensures the health impact of all policies, even those traditionally viewed outside of health care, are viewed as important for advancing health equity. Examples include:
The AAFP launched The EveryONE Project to empower family physicians to advance health equity. The project provides policies and information related to diversity, SDOH, and health equity, along with tools to help with advocacy in your community.
These materials provide information about public policies and their effect on health equity.
Model Health in All Policies Ordinance
This model ordinance helps a city or county implement health in all policies by enacting a local ordinance.
Health in All Policies: A Guide for State and Local Governments
This guide describes the health in all policies approach to addressing key drivers of health outcomes and health inequities for state and local governments.
Family physicians can mitigate health inequity, including systemic racism, by collaborating with community stakeholders to affect positive change for the populations they serve.
The Academy is committed to developing strategies that promote health equity through identifying and incorporating social determinants of health in all health care delivery systems — with the goal of prioritizing preventive health and management of chronic conditions.
References
1. Wernham A, Teutsch SM. Health in all policies for big cities. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2015;21(Suppl 1):S56-S65.