Political Determinants of Health Learning Laboratory Program

Introducing

Announcing the Political Determinants of Health (PDOH) Learning Laboratory 2021 Cohort Participants

Congratulations to the 2021 PDOH Learning Laboratory Cohort Participants.

Atlanta, GA, August 9, 2021- The Satcher Health Leadership Institute (SHLI) at Morehouse School of Medicine is excited to announce the selection of elected/appointed officials and community leaders for the 2021 PDOH Learning Laboratory Cohort.

The participants were selected from a national applicant pool of elected/appointed officials and community leaders all serving vulnerable communities in their respective jurisdictions.  This is a selective cohort of policy officials and community leaders whom, over the next two years, will be challenged to create actionable steps toward alleviating disproportionate health outcomes by utilizing the Political Determinants of Health (PDOH) framework.  At the conclusion of this inaugural cohort, these elected/appointed officials and community members will be better equipped to develop and implement  actionable solutions to close the identified health gaps within their communities.

SHLI -with WKKF support is partnering with diverse groups in building equitable and sustainable pathways for healthy communities by providing an opportunity for leaders and community champions to enhance skills in policy and health equity.  This training cohort will foster community partnerships between the participating officials and their partnering community-based organizations (CBOs). As part of this cohort each team will develop and implement a health equity initiative designed to address identified conditions unique to their local populations and communities.

 

2021 applications are now closed. Stay tuned for updates on future cohorts!

PURPOSE

This initiative seeks to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities by mobilizing elected/appointed officials, and community leaders to advance health equity interventions, programs, and policies in their respective jurisdictions. A selective cohort of policy officials and community leaders will be challenged to create actionable steps toward alleviating disproportionate health outcomes by utilizing the Political Determinants of Health (PDOH) framework. Elected/appointed officials and community members will be better equipped to develop and implement actionable solutions to close the health gap.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Individuals who do not have current affiliations with CBOs and/or appointed/elected officials are still invited to apply. SHLI staff will facilitate partnerships in those instances.

SHLI seeks to partner and support diverse groups in building equitable and sustainable pathways for healthy communities, by providing an opportunity for leaders and community champions to enhance skills in policy and health equity. The training will foster community partnerships between the participating officials and their partnering Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).  This established team will be equipped with tools to examine the PDOH factors influencing their respective local communities. Additionally, each team will develop a health equity initiative or proposal designed to address identified conditions unique to their local populations and communities.

Upon the successful completion of the training by the collaborators, each partnership team will receive a $20,000 grant to implement their proposed health equity initiative utilizing the skills obtained from the Learning Laboratory. This complimentary, empowering partnership training will have semi-monthly, virtual sessions beginning in July 2021, continuing through May 2022; engagement commitments will be approximately eight (8) hours each month.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

  • Open to policy officials and community leaders. Can be an appointed/elected official or CBO
  • Must complete a competitive review process facilitated by a nationally recognized selection team.
  • A written application must be submitted to the portal by
    the appointed deadline to be considered for review. The application will be comprised of the applicant’s demographic profile, the partnering organization’s profile, and a synopsis of the health equity initiative.
  • Applications will be supported by a joint letter of commitment
    from the elected/appointed official and the partnering CBO with demonstrated knowledge/experience of the applicant’s efforts towards advancing health equity.

 

CONTACT

Tonyka L. McKinney, DrPH, MPH

Postdoctoral Fellow, Political Determinants of Health

tmckinney@msm.edu