What is Health Equity?

Health Equity means making sure everyone has the same chance to live a healthy life, no matter who they are or where they live. It is about making sure that things like income, race, or zip code do not make it harder to be healthy.
Illustration of inequitable access. A person using a wheelchair, a parent with a child in a stroller, a person with a walking cane, a young child, and an adult on the bottom level. They are looking to get upstairs for food, books, and medical care, but only have stairs to access those resources.

Vision

Healthy People in Healthy, Equitable Connecticut Communities

Program description

Effective December 1, 2016, the Office of Health Equity (OHE) reports directly to the Office of the Commissioner as part of Public Health Systems Improvement. It works to ensure that health equity is a cross-cutting principle in all agency programs, data collection, and planning efforts. OHE program activities focus on the underlying social determinants of health, and on the promotion and implementation of culturally and linguistically appropriate services in DPH contractors, local health, and community-based organizations.
Illustration of equitable access. A person using a wheelchair, a parent with a child in a stroller, a person with a walking cane, a young child, and an adult on the bottom level. They are looking to get upstairs for food, books, and medical care, and can access those resources since they can take the stairs, escalator, or elevator.

Mission

The Office of Health Equity’s (OHE) mission is to:
1. Eliminate inequitable exposure to risk by advancing health justice and social change;
2. Connect, strengthen, and amplify health equity efforts within CT DPH and across the state of CT;
3. Apply evidence-based solutions to address health equity, inform programs, and influence policymaking.

Our responsibility

As defined in the Connecticut General Statues Section 19a-4j(a), the responsibility of the Office of Health Equity is “to improve the health of all Connecticut residents by working to eliminate differences in disease, disability and death rates among ethnic, racial and other population groups that are known to have adverse health status or outcomes.”

Key functions of the Office of Health Equity

Strategic Health Equity integration

Embedding equity into all DPH programs through tailored initiatives, measurable goals, and long-term planning.

Technical support for CT DPH

Providing data analysis, training, collaborative support, and health equity reviews to strengthen agency programs and policies.

Community outreach & partnerships

Building connections with local health agencies, community organizations, and trusted messengers to advance equity statewide.

Grant & resource planning

Guiding programs in aligning funding, resources, and grant activities with health equity priorities. 

Contact us

CT DPH’s OHE strives to closely collaborate with local departments, community partners, organizations, and stakeholders across the State of Connecticut. For more information, please contact us via e-mail at dphhealthequity@ct.gov.