In 2023, the NGA Center convened states to discuss approaches and communication strategies regarding health equity. The NGA team compiled information from discussions in these convenings as well as in learning calls and research to identify high-level themes and insights.
The three themes that emerged as top health equity priorities for states are:
- Coordinating health equity initiatives across agencies,
- Centering community voice and priorities in health equity work, and
- Integrating equity into policymaking.
Read the full brief on: Leading State Approaches And Communication Strategies To Support Health Equity
From March 2024 to June 2025, the NGA Center is facilitating a learning network of states and territories interested in advancing their health equity goals
To learn more about this project please contact Anna Heard, Senior Policy Analyst, at aheard@nga.org.
NGA Resources
Promising Practices for State and Territory Disability Data Collection and Usage
This brief outlines promising practices that states and territories can implement to collect disability data to advance health equity. A full list of citations is available in the PDF version ...
Health Equity Learning Network Kickoff
With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) launched a Health Equity Learning Network to explore policy solutions and ...
Leading State Approaches and Communication Strategies to Support Health Equity
This brief describes innovative approaches and communication strategies states and territories are using to address health equity needs. (Download) Governors are leading the way in addressing health equity in their ...
Health Equity Roundtable
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) held a health equity roundtable on August 24th in Broomfield, Colorado, bringing together nine states and territories including Colorado, Guam, ...
Behavioral Health Equity for All Communities: Policy Solutions to Advance Equity Across the Crisis Continuum
As a point of interception, equitable crisis response provides an opportunity to disrupt a cycle that has perpetuated longstanding challenges in underserved communities. (Download) Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic called widespread ...
COVID-19 Vaccines for Children: Exploring Immunization Strategies for Individuals Under 12
Governors have employed system-wide approaches and innovative procedures to protect health during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper looks at ways to position the COVID-19 children's vaccine response to ensure equitable ...
Championing Health Equity
This brief synthesizes key accomplishments and lessons learned based on interviews with 10 state COVID-19 health equity task forces. (View/Download) Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified social, economic, and health ...
Building State Capacity to Facilitate Equitable Access to Testing and Treatment for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STDs and TB
This paper includes considerations and approaches to promote equity and improve public health capacity to prevent, detect and respond to HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs and TB during the public health ...
A Case Study of The Virginia Covid-19 Equity Leadership Task Force And Health Equity Working Group
This case study is part of a series that features innovative state practices to address health equity in COVID-19 response across the country. (Download) The Commonwealth of Virginia has integrated ...
