Community members and advocates play a pivotal role in driving change and holding providers responsible for advancing health equity within healthcare organizations. Principles and actions identified within this report provide strategies to engage with healthcare to promote equity.

Strategies include:

• Engage healthcare decisionmakers. Policymakers, employers, and providers all influence decisions related to coverage and benefits.
• Advocate for healthcare policies that promote inclusion. Providers should support policies that provide care in a manner that meets the needs of everyone within a community.
• Organize community members to engage. Advocates and community members should take advantage of opportunities to engage in the shaping of a healthcare organization’s agenda and values.
• Conduct a community needs assessment.
• Harness the power of partnerships. Advocates can connect community-based organizations with healthcare organizations for partnership opportunities.
• Transform healthcare leaders into advocates.

Learn more about opportunities for community advocates to advance equity in healthcare.