Overdose prevention and health equity are two vital aspects of addressing the urgent public health crisis of substance use and overdose. Overdose data is crucial in identifying inequities and shaping effective interventions. By using data to drive action, health agencies can create more equitable and impactful strategies to prevent overdoses.
To support this work, ASTHO has created health equity resources for recipients of CDC’s Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) cooperative agreement.
Spotlight on Health Equity in OD2A Resources
Overdose Data to Action Recipient Health Equity Needs Assessment Overview
ASTHO, in consultation with CDC, created the OD2A Health Equity Needs Assessment to assess the support, technical assistance, and training that state, local, and territorial health agencies need to move health equity forward within their OD2A programs.
Health Equity Sharing Forum: Health Equity and Culturally Responsive Evaluation
ASTHO, in partnership with CDC, hosted a virtual OD2A Health Equity Sharing Forum on January 11, 2023. The forum focused on how health equity and culturally responsive evaluation are informing OD2A prevention efforts, as well as understanding how CDC and ASTHO can support these efforts through technical assistance and resource development. Panelists discussed incorporating health equity and culturally responsive evaluation into their OD2A activities and opportunities for collaboration with health equity subject matter experts.
The forum featured three speakers from CDC’s Program Evaluation Team and Applied Prevention Science Team: Minda Reed, Marissa Roberts, and Jenelle Mellerson. Three OD2A jurisdictions—Sarah Ruiz of Massachusetts, Jan Fields of Michigan, and Stacy Christopher and Ashly Jordan of New York City—and two health equity evaluation experts—Pat Campbell of Campbell Kibler Associates and Veronica Thomas of Howard University—also joined the discussion.
Resources From the Sharing Forum
- OD2A Health Equity Sharing Forum Resources Page: A curated set of resources referenced by panelists.
- Health Equity Focused Evaluation Profiles (Parts 1 – 4): A collection of four posts written by Jan Fields for the OD2A Evaluation Community of Practice blog between December 2021 through June 2022.
- Part 1: Root Cause Analysis and Equity Review
- Part 2: Plan for Adaptions
- Part 3: Context Analysis
- Part 4: Health Equit Indicator Development
- Health Equity Focused Evaluation Profiles (Part 5): This is the fifth of a series of blog posts on implementing core components of a health equity work plan that was created by NACCHO and Health Equity and Action Research Tools & Training for Transformation, a Colorado-based consulting firm.
- Part 5: Community Engagement Assessment
Resources Coming in 2024
These resources are currently in development and have an expected release date of early 2024.
- Healthy equity needs assessment resource document identifying resources to fill gaps identified in the needs assessment.
- Lessons learned video from leadership development workshop, health equity track.
Learn More
For more information and support please contact ASTHO’s OD2A team at od2a@astho.org.