The Chicago Forum for Justice in Health Policy: Creating A Health Equity Agenda for Chicago’s Elections - Health & Medicine Policy Research Group

Connect & Follow Us

Health & Medicine Policy Research Group Logo

Donate
Go Back

The Chicago Forum for Justice in Health Policy: Creating A Health Equity Agenda for Chicago’s Elections

Dec 12, 2018

On Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at SEIU Healthcare IL Member Hall Heath & Medicine held a meeting of the Chicago Forum For Justice in Health Policy to discuss what belongs on a Chicago health equity agenda as well as major barriers to health equity that our elected officials need to address. Participants were invited to provide both testimony that could be included in a Chicago Health Equity Agenda and to also share challenges to health equity in need of solutions.

Our report–Creating a Health Equity Agenda for the City of Chicago’s 2019 Municipal Elections:Forum Report on Issues, Needs, and Policy Ideas–summarizes the most emergent issues and recommendations shared by participants


Forum rational

In the face of the vast health inequities in Chicago, including a 17-year life expectancy gap at the highest point in 2016, the local public health community has increasingly focused on how we can advance health equity. Importantly, as the field turns to make progress on social determinants of health focus on the structural determinants of health inequities has grown, including interest in changing policies that maldistribute power, money, and resources.

What policy ideas should be considered for a health equity agenda in Chicago? What current policies and practices are inequitable? How should the city be allocating its budget differently? What are some bold ideas for advancing health equity in Chicago? In addition to those working in public health,  ideas and testimony were invited from people and organizations working in other sectors that can support public health, including housing, transportation, education, and food systems.

After an opening keynote presentation from Linda Rae Murray, MD, MPH, audience members discussed both high priority health inequities in need of solutions and ideas for advancing health equity in Chicago. Health & Medicine will use the combined testimony to write up a collected list of ideas to send to candidates running for office in Chicago’s 2019 Municipal Elections.