Policy & Systems Change
Policy change can lead to lasting improvements in public health. Yet, without community at the center, solutions may inadvertently embed inequities we seek to address. We support our partners to meaningfully engage impacted communities, make explicit the implicit conditions holding inequities in place, and mobilize diverse coalitions to create conditions where everyone belongs.
Community at the center
We collaborate with individuals, organizations, and communities to identify health inequities and their root causes and build capacity to advance sustainable policy and systems change solutions.
Our work spans the policy change spectrum – from assessment to measuring impact, and all phases in between. We partner with diverse sectors, integrating health equity in all areas of life.
Clients hire us to assess community priorities, build coalitions, develop policy action roadmaps, engage and mobilize communities, design communications campaigns, build capacity for advocacy and lobbying, develop policy briefs, and more.
Areas of Expertise
Community Power Building
We mobilize communities to shape policy and resource decisions.
HRiA organizes and mobilizes people to improve health. We change policy with an inside/outside approach that recognizes the need for both internal and external pressures to effect change. Working with decision-makers and community, we facilitate a “power with” approach to authentically co-create solutions.
Through our collaborations, we advance collectively owned, meaningful, and sustainable solutions.
Communications & Narrative Change
We shift narratives through human-centered campaigns and communications.
Our team uncovers dominant beliefs that hold inequities in place – in our workplaces, communities, and systems. Guided by shared values, we bring diverse voices together to coalesce around and amplify new visions of the world we want to see.
HRiA’s approach is powered by heart, centering the stories of community. We develop compelling, creative campaigns and strategic communications to highlight the “why” of our work. This generates awareness and support for policy change.
Policy & Practice
We partner across sectors to integrate health equity in all policies.
Health outcomes are impacted by laws, policies, and practices that determine access to wealth, housing, and more.
We work with big “P” policy – working with legislators and advocates on topics from housing to education to climate justice, and little “p” policy and practice – working with organizations and institutions to explore topics from equitable procurement and hiring to community engagement approaches. Health equity is centered in all approaches – integrating health in everything from formal legislation to shared organizational practices.
Advocacy
We build demand and take strategic action to drive social change.
Through trust-based relationship building and engagement of trusted messengers, we thoughtfully reach and partner deeply with communities and populations most impacted by health inequities. We generate support for equitable policies via strategic actions that shift narratives and public opinion.
Activities such as education, storytelling, and lobbying prepare coalitions, communities, and youth to engage decision-makers, the media, and the general public on the issues they care about.
Impact Stories
See our policy and advocacy work in action.
Leadership
Brittany Chen, DrPH
Vice President, Health Equity
Kathleen McCabe, MPA
Managing Director, Policy & Practice
Mo Barbosa
Senior Director, Community Engagement
Ben Wood, MPH
Senior Director, Policy & Practice
Valerie Polletta, MSc
Managing Director, Community & Culture Transformation
Karen Schoneman, MA
Managing Director, Health Communication
Think we can help?
We work with our clients, customizing their project to meet their specific organizational and community needs. Even if you don’t see your exact needs listed in our services and offerings, we’d love to hear from you.