Transformational community engagement to advance health equity

Within government, policy and programmatic changes are often made without engaging the people they will affect or the people currently experiencing the challenges of existing policies and programs. By comparison, software developers rely on end-user testing to refine their products and marketing and communications professionals leverage focus groups to identify effective messaging strategies. Inequities in COVID-19 mortality, morbidity, and vaccine distribution have underlined the historical legacies and contemporary realities of distrust of government and the failures of our health and social services systems to meet the needs of people of color. Community engagement is one of the ways states are attempting to establish and maintain trust and improve the accessibility and quality of services. Such efforts can improve communication, lead to more effective and efficient programs, and result in ongoing collaboration with people who have experienced state-run systems and services. (author introduction) #P4HEwebinarOctober2023