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Commitment to Health Equity and Anti-Racism Efforts - Timeline

~2013

  • Board adopts equity and inclusion as organizational values

2017

  • 3 part Cultural Competency, Equity, and Institutional Racism board training lead by board member Tamara Falls

2018

  • Policy Committee adds equity questions to the Legislative/Policy Endorsement Request Form

Before the 2018 legislative session, we added the APHA definition and notes about health equity to our endorsement request form.  Then we added a series of questions to emphasize how the proposed legislation would address health equity.  See attached.

Many of the legislative proposals we support address the social determinants of health, which have a huge impact on health, or a health issue that disproportionately impacts marginalized communities.  Examples include paid family leave,  the 2019 Climate Action Plan (aka Clean Energy Jobs), Translation of prescription bottle labels for patients with limited or no English proficiency, reducing diesel pollution, increasing the minimum wage, and paid sick days.

  • Board directs Nominations Committee to recruit diverse board candidates

OPHA's board of directors has recognized that increasing diversity in our leadership is important.  A diverse set of perspectives, skills, work, and life experience in leadership positions will strengthen our efforts to improve health for ALL Oregonians.

  • The Board has directed the Nominations Committee to do outreach with diversity in mind.  We also rely on members to suggest nominees and to run for board positions.  
  • Revised our Bylaws to be gender neutral.

2019

  • OPHA members develop the Oregon Call to Action on Climate, Health, and Equity
  • A DEI Workgroup is created at the board retreat in December

2020

  • January 2020 – Board adopts statement condemning “public charge”
  • February 4, 2020 – Lead by OPHA, over 500 Oregon health leaders and organizations Declare climate change a public health emergency.  OPHA Executive Director and partners hold a press event
  • February 2020 – OPHA members host a Public Health Advocacy Day and ask legislators to pass the Clean Energy Jobs bill, which focuses on equity and bringing climate solutions and jobs to rural Oregon
  • February 2020 – Board begins meeting exclusively by virtual means to enable lower income members to serve on the board
  • May 2020 – Board adopts Anti-Racism Statement
  • June 2020 – OPHA board members and policy committee leadership begin outreach to colleagues that culminates in convening of the Oregon Health Equity Task Force and the development of HB 2337 for the 2021 legislative session.  HB 2337 Declares Racism a Public Health Crisis and is introduced and championed by Representative Andrea Salinas.  OPHA convenes the Task Force throughout the entire 2021 legislative session and co-leads the advocacy work
  • June 2020 – Oregon House passes HR 6, declaring racism a public health crisis based on HB 2337
  • August 2020 Board adopts new Confidentiality Statement in anticipation of plan to collect REAL D from members
  • September 2020 Board adopts new Confidentiality Policy in anticipation of plan to collect REAL D from members
  • September 2020 OPHA Board adopts internal Diversity Definition developed by DEI Workgroup/Committee
  • September 2020 Board adopts internal Health Equity Statement
  • October 2020 DEI Workgroup is codified as a standing committee in the Bylaws

2021

  • March 2021 – Board adopts statement of Support and Solidarity with Asian, Asian-American Community
  • June 2021 OPHA begins collecting REAL D from members on the new membership & renewal form (SOGI information is not currently being collected)
  • October 2021 – OPHA begins offering the annual Health Equity Champion award
  • October 2021 OPHA begins reconvening the Oregon Health Equity Task Force to bring forward a shorter version of HB 2337

2022

  • OPHA continues convening The Oregon Health Equity Task Force which introduces HB 4052, which contains three of the strategies from 2021’s HB 2337.  Representative Andrea Salinas is once more the chief sponsor.
  • HB 4052 passes with bi-partisan support
  • Three-part Anti-racism training for the board by Engage to Change (9 hours total)
  • Fall  2022 - OPHA leads advocacy efforts to pass HB 2918 and 2925 which will continue funding and extend the deadlines for the work the legislature committed to with passage of HB 4052.

2023

  • OPHA continues leading advocacy efforts to pass HB 2918 and 2925 which will continue funding and extend the deadlines for the work the legislature committed to with passage of HB 4052.
  • February 17 – board unanimously adopts Anti Racism Strategic Goal
  • February 17 – board unanimously adopts Member Code of Conduct, adapted from the American Public Health Association Member Code of Conduct