HEALTH EQUITY INITIATIVE

What is CADH's Health Equity Initiative?

The Health Equity Alliance (HEA) is an initiative of the Connecticut Association of Directors of Health (CADH) to enhance the capacity of local health departments, in partnership with community partners and leaders, to achieve health equity through a focus on the social determinants (including the social, political, economic, and environmental conditions) that affect health. 

As part of that initiative, CADH has developed the Health Equity Index (Index), a web-based, community-specific tool, the first of its kind in the nation, that profiles and measures the social determinants of health and their correlations with specific health outcomes.  The Index can produce community-specific scores, correlations, and GIS maps.  The Index also provides direction for collecting additional qualitative data—the narrative of those experiencing or witnessing health inequities. 

The ultimate goal of the HEA initiative is to achieve long-term health improvements for residents who presently experience avoidable and disproportionate rates of disease and disability.