Black/African American Health Initiative (BAAHI) Learning Series

The San Francisco Department of Public Health has been running the Black/African American Health Initiative (BAAHI) since 2014 to address specific health disparities in the local Black/African American community. The initiative has been innovative in two key ways: (1) focusing on inter-divisional coordination to include substantial community focus and patient involvement in clinical quality improvement, and (2) explicitly addressing anti-racism and institutional focus, requiring the development of a broad racial equity infrastructure.

One of the key programs of BAAHI is the weekly Equity Learning Series (ELS), which concentrates on race, racism, and other systemic inequities impacting Black/African American health. These sessions aim to raise awareness and build the capacity of DPH staff, offering comprehensive insights into the historical and contemporary factors contributing to health disparities.

Each session includes scholarly articles, videos, and podcasts discussions, as well as interactive discussions led by Office of Health Equity staff. The topics covered range from the effects of systemic racism on mental and physical health, barriers to healthcare access, to strategies for community empowerment and policy advocacy.

The Equity Learning Series equips staff with the knowledge and tools needed to advocate for change within DPH, promote health equity, and improve health outcomes within Black/African American communities. Through this initiative, BAAHI seeks to build a more informed and resilient workforce capable of addressing and overcoming the health challenges posed by racial inequities.

Goals

• To normalize conversations about race
• To create a shared understanding/vocabulary
• To help staff see their own role in addressing inequity
• To develop ways that Health Equity can be incorporated into DPH practices