Hundreds of organizations, including state and local health departments across the country, have declared racism a public health crisis. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) called it a “serious public health threat.” But words alone don’t inspire action or make change. This study conducted by the de Beaumont Foundation — which is based on a survey of more than 44,000 state and local public employees and interviews with 20 public health employees — investigates the public health workforce’s capacity and readiness to address unequal conditions shaping health outcomes. This research provides critical insights into the motivations, challenges, and opportunities that government public health employees face and offers practical recommendations for steps that health departments can take to rectify longstanding gaps in opportunity and access and advance health equity. (author abstract)
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