Wisconsin Healthiest State Initiative

The Healthiest State Convenings aim to:

• Convene and support diverse leaders in setting and taking action on a common agenda to align and catalyze efforts;
• Provide capacity building and support to address cross-cutting needs, challenges, and opportunities; and
• Advance a shared narrative that expands the understanding of what shapes health and equity.

During odd years, Agenda Setting Convenings are held to identify shared priorities. In even years, a statewide Summit is held to provide training and capacity building and to support coalition building and further alignment around priorities. The outcomes and planning for these events are linked to shared action between convenings. The hope is that these efforts will lead to a strong and diverse network of effective leaders and coalitions, working together to achieve sustainable changes to advance health equity in Wisconsin.

2017 Healthiest State Agenda Setting Convening Summary Report

2018 Healthiest State Summit Summary Report 

2019 Healthiest State Agenda Setting Convening Summary Report

Six health equity priorities were identified in the 2017 Healthiest State Agenda Setting Meeting.

• Center leadership of those most impacted by inequity
• Build diverse alliances and partnerships
• Declare racism a public health emergency
• Develop a health equity narrative with strong frames
• Health equity legislative/policy agenda
• Identify and support public health champions

Workgroups were established to advance work on the health equity priorities and partners came together in September of 2018 at the inaugural Healthiest State Summit to build capacity and continue action around these priorities. The two priorities that did not have workgroups were “build diverse alliances and partnerships” and “identify and support public health champions.” Both of these priorities were embedded goals within each workgroup and were also represented as training tracks at the 2018 Healthiest State Summit.

Summary of Health Equity Priority Workgroups

Centering the Voices of Those Most Impacted Workgroup

Goal: To support work to center voices of those most impacted by inequity in health equity work

Work to date: 

• Developed principles regarding Centering Voices of those most impacted by inequity
• Featured two panels on Centering Voices on the 2018 Healthiest State Summit focused on criminal justice organizing and youth organizing

Health Equity Narrative Workgroup

Goal: Develop and disseminate a health equity narrative

Work to date:

• Messaging During COVID-19 Resource Suite
• Narrative Video Series
  • Part 1: What is Narrative and Why Does it Matter? (10 min)
  • Part 2: Toxic and Transformative Health Equity Narratives in Wisconsin (5 min)
  • Part 3: Applying Transformative Narratives to COVID-19 Messaging (8 min)

Health Equity Policy Platform Workgroup

Goals:

• Support connections between people working on social determinants of health and health equity 
• Collect information on what folks are doing in social determinants of health and health equity 
• Use data to inform priorities and crosswalks of policy agendas
• Identify needs for resources
• Support local policy platform development

Work to date: Building Health Equity Policy Agendas: A Guide for Wisconsin 

Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis Workgroup

Goal: Increase resources, training and action to address racism as a public health crisis

Work to date: 

• Partnered with the Wisconsin Public Health Association’s Racial Equity workgroup to support passing the racism resolution,  “Racism is a Public Health Crisis” Resolution, in May 2018
• Hosted Understanding Racism as a Public Health Issue Webinar prior to the 2018 Healthiest State Summit
• Sign-on to the Racism is a Public Health Crisis in Wisconsin Declaration

Learn more

For more information about the Health Equity Priority Workgroups, contact Kristi Anderson (klanderson23@wisc.edu).

A training plan to support the health equity priorities is in development. More information will be posted soon.

There are existing resources that can help you and your organization start, deepen, and sustain your efforts to embed health and racial equity into your work. Please see this document of recommended resources, organized by where you are in your health equity work: Health and Racial Equity Resources.  The Wisconsin Public Health Association has also compiled Racism and Health Resources.

For more information about the emerging training efforts, contact Raymond Neal (raymond.neal@wisc.edu).