Health Equity Initiative
In March 2008, Multnomah County and communities across the country launched what has been the largest discussion locally on the connections between healthy bodies, healthy bank accounts, and skin color. Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?, a documentary about the societal causes of illness, was aired in a series of public screenings followed by community discussions. Over 600 community members viewed Unnatural Causes and participated in discussions. The Multnomah County Health Equity Initiative collected the ideas participants offered on policy change and service improvements to make Multnomah County a healthy and vibrant community for all.
Commissioner Cogen strongly supports the Health Equity Initiative, appreciates the work of all the outstanding County employees involved in pulling together this effort, applauds the broad community participation we have seen so far, and urges you to consider attending one of the upcoming September or October events listed at the end of this post.
The Health Equity Initiative is a multi-year strategy to investigate the socio-economic factors that influence health, such as education, environmental hazards, healthcare access, income and class, substandard housing, inequity in the justice system, and lack of power.
Beginning in September, 2008, the Health Equity Initiative will share the summary of participants’ suggestions for policies that promote health equity. These Report Back Sessions will also provide an opportunity for residents of Multnomah County to further discuss policy options and identify their health equity priorities. The Initiative will use these priorities and recommendations to develop a health equity policy agenda for Multnomah County.
The following Report Back Sessions are free and open to the public:
Saturday, September 20 Gresham Library
385 NW Miller Avenue
Gresham, OR 97030 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Saturday, September 27 New Columbia Community Center
4625 N Trenton St
Portland, OR 97203 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Monday, September 29 Central Library
801 SW 10th Ave
Portland, OR 97205 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Tuesday, September 30 Multnomah Arts Center - Capitol Room, Neighborhood House Senior Center
7688 SW Capitol Hwy
Portland, OR 97219 5:30 pm– 7:30 pm
Wednesday, October 1 Multnomah Building – Board Room
501 SE Hawthorne
Portland, OR 97214 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Saturday, October 11 PCC Cascade Campus - Moriarty Arts and Humanities Building (MAHB 104)
705 N. Killingsworth St.
Portland, OR 97217 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Tuesday, October 28 Midland Library
805 S.E. 122nd Avenue
Portland, OR 97233 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Posted on August 26, 2008
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