Category: Uncategorized

Public health professionals have long understood that controlling health care costs is largely dependent on improving the health of communities. Healthcare organizations, while supporting the principle that community health improvement is good for society, have played less of a role in addressing issues that impact the public’s health. There are many reasons for this, including… Read more »

Organizations and community partnerships know strategic planning is critical to better performance, engagement, and quality improvement. Yet many face the reality that planning is time consuming and costly. HRiA’s FAST approach to Facilitating Alignment and Strategic Thinking builds consensus, uses data to inform collective action, and aligns efforts to maximize impact. FAST is an intensive… Read more »

“It’s the job of public health to tell the truth about what creates health.” Conference keynote speaker, Jeanne Ayers, the Chief Health Equity Strategist for the Minnesota Department of Health inspired the room full of professionals. On December 8, 2016, over 100 people came together at the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston for an important… Read more »

I am thrilled that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced yesterday that it is requiring all public housing in the country to be smoke-free within 18 months. The rule prohibits lit tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, or pipes) in all living units, indoor common areas, administrative offices, and all outdoor areas within 25… Read more »

There are stark gaps in life expectancy, disease incidence, and health status among different racial and ethnic groups in the United States. While social determinants of health play an undeniably large role in both race and class discrepancies, HRiA’s new Policy & Practice Report explores another contributing factor. Developing a Racially Diverse Biomedical Research Workforce… Read more »

Health Resources in Action’s Asthma Regional Council (ARC) has been awarded the National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the New England Asthma Innovation Collaborative project. ARC was one of only four awardees nationally. ARC established the New England Asthma Innovation Collaborative (NEAIC) in 2012 with a Centers for… Read more »

Health Resources in Action (HRiA), a national leader in public health consulting services and medical research, announced today that Steven Ridini, Ed.D., has been appointed as its new President and Chief Executive Officer effective March 1, 2016. Dr. Ridini’s selection and appointment follow an extensive national search. He succeeds Ray Considine, HRiA’s former President and… Read more »

What is health equity? How is it different from health disparities? Health equity is attainment of the highest level of health for all people – valuing everyone equally by focusing on societal efforts to address avoidable inequalities, historical and contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health and health care disparities. Health disparities are differences in… Read more »

Does this sound familiar? You walk into your organization’s onsite cafeteria and the first thing you see is the daily special. It’s a Giant Spicy Beef Burrito topped with Monterey Jack Cheese and served with chips and a medium drink for $5.99. As a member of your wellness committee you think about the recent results… Read more »

Men Scientists Received More Than Twice the Startup Funding of Women A study by Health Resources in Action’s Medical Foundation published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) finds that women received significantly less financial support from biomedical research institutions than men early in their careers. The study, focused on a group… Read more »

Despite its proven effectiveness at promoting oral health in a safe, cost-effective, and equitable manner, water fluoridation cannot win on its scientific merits alone. Unfounded claims and half-truths promoted by a very small but vocal, well-organized minority opposed to water fluoridation have prompted a longstanding, heated political discourse. Health Resources in Action (HRiA) has piloted… Read more »

In evaluation efforts, Health Resources in Action (HRiA) employs a vigorous scientific approach while also building the capacity of organizations to integrate evaluation into their work. This is true for HRiA’s newest project, a $2.75 million evaluation of SÍ Texas: Social Innovation for a Healthy South Texas. SÍ Texas, based in San Antonio, is sponsored by the… Read more »