The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) Health Equity Committee has adapted an equity decision-making tool—a set of questions to use in intentionally evaluating policies, decisions and processes for equity—for use by MAFP staff, leadership, volunteers and members.
“Equity lens tools are designed to integrate explicit consideration of equity—most often, racial equity—into decisions before they are made and implemented (e.g., policies, programs, plans and budgets). The goal is to systematically assess how different groups might be affected by a decision, identify adverse consequences and propose recommendations to address impacts. And since equity is a process and an outcome, community involvement is a core component.”
–Big Cities Health Coalition
Using this tool creates a “pause” and provides important reminders (for those with decision-making authority) to not perpetuate structures and systems of oppression and to make space for and lift up all voices, especially those most impacted by a decision.
HEALTH EQUITY LENS TOOL
ARE THE KEY PEOPLE MEANINGFULLY INCLUDED?
- Are key people meaningfully included?
- Is this a decision about a group or an individual? If so, is their voice centered or represented?
- If this involves a decision or extra work from another group/committee, are they included in conversations?
- How diverse is the group of decision makers?
WHO WILL BE IMPACTED?
- Who benefits from this?
- Who is burdened by this?
- Will this impact patients, members, staff and/or health systems? If so, how?
- Does this help us meet the needs of underserved patients (or under-resourced clinics)?
- Have we considered specific marginalized groups and how they might be impacted?
WHAT ARE THE INTENDED & UNINTENDED OUTCOMES?
- What issue are we trying to solve?
- What do we hope will happen?
- What are the potential negative impacts?
- Have we thought about all the ways this could go awry?
- Who could be hurt by this?
- What data or evidence supports this decision?
- How might this be perceived by others?
- What are the assumptions taking place?
DOES THIS ALIGN WITH OUR VISION FOR BEING EQUITABLE & INCLUSIVE?
- How is equity addressed?
- How does this align with our equity plan?
- What barriers might this place in the way of achieving our equity plan?
- How does this impact our environment, both physical and cultural?
WHAT CHANGES COULD BE MADE TO MAKE THIS MORE EQUITABLE?
The above leads to….
DOES THIS ADVANCE ANTI-RACISM EFFORTS, OR DOES IT EXACERBATE RACISM?
Download a printable version of the Health Equity Lens Tool at mafp.org/health-equity and find additional resources on using a health equity lens via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
