BAY AREA Program

For 20 years, we’ve partnered with our 11 founding health departments to lead the way in health equity. 

Our San Francisco Bay Area program focuses on helping health departments work together, learn from each other, and increase their impact on health equity. We provide opportunities for collaboration through communities of practice, offer training, and create practical guidebooks to support their efforts.

Together, they created the BARHII framework, which is used by the American Medical Association to guide health equity efforts. Their expert analysis has been used to ensure communities are creating the conditions for health, through support for extended paid sick leave, healthy housing solutions, and equity in emergency response. Third-party evaluators credit these interventions with saving and extending lives throughout the Bay Area.

Today, our Bay Area efforts continue as a cornerstone of our work—and the heart and soul of our health equity inspiration.

  • A membership body, with leadership from all Bay Area health departments, this committee advances health equity. Today, they are focused on supporting the public health workforce, codifying the best of equity in emergency response efforts, and reducing drug overdoses and death. They also partner to support the region's Pacific Islander Taskforce, addressing Black health equity, and support our region's vibrant immigrant communities. BARHII also hosts two regional communities of practice including a data committee of the region's epidemiologists and the region's Equity Officer community of practice.