Embracing Diversity in Public Health

A Catalyst for Culturally Competent Solutions, Health Equity, and Innovation

by Danny Staley, SVP, Public Health Practice, ASTHO

Public health faces a multitude of complex issues across our range of programs at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) such as maternal and infant mortality, drug overdose, and the increasing spread of sexually transmitted infections. It is critical to have diverse perspectives at the table when addressing these programs across the spectrum of our field.

We learn so much by seeing how other people and cultures experience the world. I have always thought that one-size-fits-all led to one-size-fits-few. The energy we gain by multiple viewpoints is part of the reward. I find without diverse engagement there is less satisfaction in the advancement of public health.

There are many reasons why diversity is important in public health. For ASTHO, our public health practice and programs are where we see diversity benefiting us in leveraging cultural competency, addressing health disparities, and discovering an influx of innovative solutions.

Creating Cultural Awareness

When we have diverse perspectives at the table, we are more aware of what the community really needs. Having those community members represented within our workforce at the health department level or at ASTHO allows for additional input on how to address a public health concern.

Culturally competent programs and services are designed to meet the unique needs of different cultural groups. They consider the beliefs, values, and traditions of different cultures, and they are provided in a way that is respectful, sensitive, and, as a result, more effective.

Here’s an example of that attention to awareness from our preparedness team: ASTHO, through funding from CDC, helped jurisdictions prepare for and respond to the needs of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. As part of this program, disability and preparedness specialists were placed in 16 states and two territorial health agencies between January 2021 to July 2022. Specialists worked with these agencies to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in public health emergency preparedness. Programs such as this can continue to make lasting and meaningful changes for the disability community during public health emergencies and beyond.

Addressing Health Disparities

Health disparities are due to several factors, such as poverty, racism, and lack of access to quality healthcare. A diverse public health workforce is better equipped to understand and address the determinants of health, and to develop and implement interventions to reduce health disparities.

If our diverse workforce is comprised of the very community they serve, we can address their needs without having to guess or rely on national trends. At the microlevel, specific solutions for specific communities are what would help us ease these disparities.

Harnessing Innovative Perspectives

Innovation is essential for public health, and having a workforce with varying backgrounds provides a stronger base to develop innovative strategies. We’re better able to find innovative means for communicating health messages that motivate communities and individuals to act as well as develop new techniques for data collection and analysis that ensures all communities are represented.

During COVID-19, to secure this critical component of innovation, we partnered with a diverse group of professional organizations that focused on minority populations to improve vaccine communication and uptake.

From the examples above, we can see that public health has been changed for the better. My programmatic approach would not be the same without a diverse team that supports me in these efforts to address our public health areas. I am grateful for all the help and support we have in making sure that the work we do at ASTHO is as impactful as possible for all.