EQUITY POLICY COUNCIL
About the Council
The Central Health Equity Policy Council (CHEP Council) launched in September 2015 and includes members from over 70 community partners.
The Council includes policy, data, and community experts that are passionate to health issues concerning our community. All members have received training on evidence-based best practices and innovative policies from local, state and national experts.
The Council provides recommendations for local chronic disease prevention policies inside the geographic boundaries of Travis County, Texas. The Council population of concern is residents of Travis County at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
VISION
Wellness for all through health equity in our community.
Mission
Identify and advance effective health equity and wellness policies for Travis County residents.
Member Expectations
Be committed to the vision and mission of the Council
Bring evidence-based, best practice information back to the Council for planning and decision-making
Serve as an effective liaison between your agency and key stakeholders and the Council
Commitment to work in the public interest using your expertise to create health equity in Travis County
Member Commitment
Attend annual Council at Large meeting
Inform the annual policy agenda
Participate in ad hoc committee upon request (this may require a monthly meeting commitment during a policy initiative
Contribute personal and/or professional time upon request and according to availability
Our Success
Austin Breathes Vape Free Air (2016-2017)
As their first initiative, the Central Health Equity Policy Council worked on and successfully passed a City of Austin ordinance in 2017 to prohibit electronic smoking devices anywhere smoking is prohibited.
Links:
Recess Policy (2017-2018)
The Central Health Equity Policy Council took up its second initiative around recess policy in 2017. Building on the momentum of Austin ISD adopting a model recess policy, the Council advocated for recess policies in the Manor and Leander ISDs.
School District Policy Adoptions
HIV Screening Opt-Out Policy (2018-2019)
In 2018, the Central Health Equity Policy Council kicked off its third initiative, which centered around implementing an HIV screening opt-out policy at safety-net provider clinics in Travis County. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends testing all health care patients for HIV––regardless of their reported risk behaviors––using an “opt–out” approach in which patients are informed that an HIV test will be conducted unless they explicitly decline to be tested.
The Council worked with the following providers to successfully adopt, implement, or strengthen the screening policy:
- St. David’s South Austin Medical Center
- El Buen Samaritano
- People’s Community Clinic
- CommUnityCare
The coalition also partnered with the University of Texas LBJ students who created an algorithm that determines the cost of screening for healthcare systems, how many more years of life are saved by the additional screening and quality of life-years adjusted.
Interested in joining?
Call 512.978.8172, or email Manager of Community and Population Health Strategy Megan Cermak.
