To better understand how ACHs systems, collaborative processes, and goals influence progress toward health equity, researchers conducted interviews and focus groups with ACHs in Washington and California.

Results indicate that ACHs are devoting time and resources to developing detailed processes to collaborate across domains to achieve health equity. Five specific approaches they used to collaboratively address health equity include:

• Providing equity education and training to participating organizations and community groups;
• Including diverse community voices in collaborative decision-making;
• Changing practices in their participant’s daily operations to be more equitable;
• Improving existing services and developing new services with a focus on equitable access and delivery; and
• Actively keeping equity at the center of ACH efforts.

This research establishes a baseline understanding of how ACHs can help advance health equity.