Working towards health equity creates equal opportunity for everybody to be healthy.
What is Health Equity?
When every person has the opportunity to realize their health potential — the highest level of health possible for that person — without limits imposed by structural inequities. Health equity means achieving the conditions in which all people have the opportunity to attain their highest possible level of health (Minnesota Department of Health).
Working towards health equity creates equal opportunity for everybody to be healthy.
Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Community Health Services is working to create equal opportunity for residents to reach their maximum level of health possible, by closing avoidable health gaps related to health outcomes. MMS CHS will continue to work collaboratively with community partners that have interest and experience in health equity, by working together with a comprehensive approach to tackle health inequities.
Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Community Health Services strives to make healthy choices for all.
MMS CHS aims to reduce health disparities between groups and thereby advance health equity. Throughout 2022, MMS staff conducted a Health Equity Data Analysis to document health inequities and their root causes as a first step towards addressing health inequity within the region.
2022 Health Equity Data Analysis Findings
Health Equity challenges that achieving the highest level of health for individuals is not always a choice or behavior change but rather affected by the factors of the Social Determinants of Health.
Social determinants of health are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.
Conditions (e.g., social, economic, and physical) in these various environments and settings (e.g., school, church, workplace, and neighborhood) have been referred to as “place.” In addition to the more material attributes of “place,” the patterns of social engagement and sense of security and well-being are also affected by where people live. Resources that enhance quality of life can have a significant influence on population health outcomes.
Health Equity in Minnesota
Minnesota, on average, ranks among the healthiest states in the nation.
But those averages do not tell the whole story. Minnesota has some of the greatest health disparities in the country between whites and people of color and American Indians. Why is this? and What can Meeker, McLeod and Sibley Counties do to advance health equity?
To be healthy, people need peace, shelter, education, food, income, and social justice.
In short, health is created where people live, work, and play. Minnesota’s significant and long-lasting health inequities cannot be explained by bio-genetic factors and personal choice. These health differences have in part resulted from structural racism, which refers to racism that is built into systems and policies, rather than individual prejudice. Creating health equity requires a comprehensive solution that includes but goes beyond targeted grants and access to health care. Locally, MMS needs to address health disparities as part of a broad spectrum of public investments in housing, transportation, education, economic opportunity and criminal justice.
Learn More About Health Equity
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota: The Cost of Health Inequity
- Minnesota Department of Health: The Center for Health Equity
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Achieving Health Equity
