Partnering with Communities and the CDC to Improve and Strengthen Public Health Systems
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Focus Areas
Capacity Building & Leadership, Healthy Communities -
Issues
Nutrition & Food Security
From 2023-2024, PHI’s Center for Wellness and Nutrition (CWN) supported two cohorts within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Population Health: The Closing the Gap with Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Plans Grant Program and the Addressing Conditions to Improve Population Health – ACTion initiative. Working with 20 organizations across 16 states and territories. PHI CWN provided training and technical assistance to help grantees embed health equity, community voice and co-decision-making into their systems-change efforts.
Following a needs assessment, PHI CWN facilitated 11 interactive trainings on topics like leadership, food and nutrition security, community-clinical linkages, and policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies. Accelerator recipients also received tailored technical assistance focused on key social determinants of health. along with tools for data collection, community engagement and team development.
Post-training evaluations informed continuous improvements, resulting in more engaging sessions and useful resources. Grantees reported increased ability to apply equity-focused approaches and valued the hands-on support.
I really enjoyed this training. It was clear, organized and relevant to systems-level change—while emphasizing the importance of including the community.Participant from Trainings
We are so grateful for your service and support in this process.Participant from Trainings
PHI CWN’s partnership with these CDC initiatives concluded in 2024, marking a significant contribution to national efforts to improve public health through community-led and equity-centered strategies. CWN is deeply grateful to the CDC Division of Population Health for the opportunity to serve as a technical assistance provider and to support recipients committed to building healthier, more inclusive systems across the country.
A version of this impact story first appeared in the CWN 2024 Impact Report.
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