As health disparities continue to persist throughout our community, the prevention field has an important role in the advancement of health equity. The session will help leaders identify practical strategies to act individually and collectively to address significant challenges and barriers for the achievement of optimal health and wellness.
1. Describe health disparities, health equity and social determinants of health.
2. Identify factors in the social environment that can contribute to or impede the health of individuals and communities.
3. Understand how health equity impacts prevention work.
Cerise Hunt, PhD, MSW is the Director for the Center for Public Health Practice, Assistant Professor in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health at Colorado School of Public Health, and Past-President of the Colorado Public Health Association. She is responsible for the formation of community linkages that guide public health practice, provision of continuing education and workforce development opportunities in public health, and engagement in public health practice research. Cerise was instrumental in the formation of the Colorado Black Health Collaborative. She is also a founding member of the Healthy Babies Strong Families Healthy Start Community Action Network, which is a multi-sector collective impact initiative committed to the reduction of the African American/Black infant mortality rate and the promotion of positive birth outcomes.
Prior to her employment with the Colorado School of Public Health, Cerise was the Health Disparities Specialist at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Office of Health Disparities. There, she was charged with developing and implementing state-wide strategies to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities. Dr. Hunt’s research explores topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion and organizational change; racial and ethnic health disparities; and community outreach and mobilization among diverse populations.
