Are you serious about applying health equity, but not sure where to start? This course, based on the Health Equity Guidebook developed by the Metro Denver Partnership, is for you. We’ll prepare you to close gaps in health status that result from systemic, avoidable, and unjust policies and practices that create barriers to opportunity for certain people. To effectively engage in health equity work, you will also need to look inward at your own values and biases. You’ll learn how to equip yourself and your colleagues to challenge and transform systems that disadvantage entire populations.

This course has three main objectives: 

• Foster a common understanding of health equity so we can work together using common language and definitions.
• Identify the shared values of health equity work and help you identify where your own values fit in.
• Establish a common understanding of how our country’s historical systems and policies continue to be a barrier to health equity, with a focus on structural racism.

Cost

• FREE to participants in Region VIII (CO, UT, WY, MT, ND, SD).
• $160 for participants outside our region.

What to Expect

We use a flipped-classroom approach, so you’ll work through course content independently and then connect with a small cohort of peers weekly for live learning sessions that provide an opportunity to ask questions, share your knowledge, and learn from others.

6 Live Learning Sessions

Each session will include a facilitated discussion among class participants related to that week’s topic. A subject matter expert will lead the discussion, engage participants, and answer questions. Below is the schedule for our live sessions.

• 2 weeks before the first live session, you will have access to the online materials.
• Week 1: Introduction (Note, this class is an extra 30 minutes)
• Week 2: Values
• Week 3: Privilege, Power, and Bias
• Week 4: Structural Inequality and Public Health: Part I
• Week 5: Structural Inequality and Public Health: Part II
• Week 6: Strategies for Advancing Health Equity

SSuccessful completion of this course requires your participation in these sessions by video using a webcam or built-in camera on your device.

Weekly Online Learning Activities

Each week, you must complete assigned online learning activities that include reading and watching videos. There will also be a short assignment in preparation for each live learning session that should take about an hour to complete.

Course Access

The course will materials will be available 2 weeks before the first live session. You will receive additional instructions at that time. If you don’t see an email (don’t forget to check your spam folder), please contact us at lms.registration.rmphtc@ucdenver.edu. Make sure you sign in prior to your first live session to complete the required activities and ensure you know how to connect with your camera.

Successful Completion

To earn a Certificate of Completion, you must complete the following:

• Attend 4 out of the 6 live sessions. 
• complete 80% of the required learning activities in Brightspace.
• Complete the post-course evaluation.

Learning Objectives

1. Define the Issue: Define "health equity” and be able to explain health equity to different audiences.
2. Self-Reflect: Explore your own personal and professional values and explain why they are important to the practice of public health. Explore your own social identities and areas of bias.
3. Connect the Dots: Describe the connection between values and health equity, and discuss how the values underlying health equity play a key role in effective communication about health equity.
4. Know the Literature: Explain privilege and implicit bias. Describe the legacy and impact of structural or institutional inequality.
5. Put to Action: Discuss real-life examples of how to address structural inequality in public health.

Length of Learning Opportunity

6.5 hours over 6 weeks

Primary Competency

Public Health Sciences Skills

We strive to host inclusive and accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Please let us know of any accommodations that will assist your full participation.

Please choose a session below.

You will be contacted within 2 business days with additional information.