Promoting Health Equity

Health equity is achieved when everyone has an equal opportunity to reach his or her health potential regardless of social position or other characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual identity, or disability. Health inequities are closely linked with social determinants of health — elements of a society's organization and process that affect the overall distribution of disease and health. Examples include education, housing and the built environment, transportation, employment opportunities, the law, and the justice system. The health care and public health systems are also social determinants of health.

Social determinants affect health by influencing risk and protective factors for disease and injury in many different and complex ways. They affect the capacity to earn a good living, live and work in a safe and healthy environment, and effectively use available resources, including health care resources.

Current Community Guide reviews are focused on interventions to reduce health inequities among racial and ethnic minorities and low-income populations. Initial reviews will focus on educational interventions.

Task Force Recommendations & Findings

This table lists interventions reviewed by the Community Guide, with a summary of the Task Force finding (definitions of findings). Click on an underlined intervention title for a summary of the review.

Education Programs and Policies: Full Day Kindergarten

Recommended December 2011

For More Information

CDC, Community Health and Health Equity Program

CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report — United States, 2011 [PDF - 3 MB].

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Health Policy Brief: Achieving Equity in Health [PDF - 542.81 KB].

THRIVE (Tool for Health and Resilience in Vulnerable Environments)

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