THURS-080 - Equipping the Next Generation of Health Equity Advocates: BLKHLTH Community Advocacy for Racial Equity School

Brief Abstract Summary: Hear about BLKHLTH’s efforts to identify and address structural drivers of racial health inequities at the local level. Learn about the formation, core elements, and initial findings of the BLKHLTH Community Advocacy for Racial Equity School (CARES) fellowship program. Recognize the need for health trainees to be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to be racial and health equity advocates in their local communities.

Detailed abstract description: Students at institutions of higher education have played a critical role in advocating for racial justice and health equity across time, including most recently during the 2020 convergence of racial inequities in COVID-19 outcomes and heightened visibility of police brutality. In response and recognition of the growing desire among health trainees to advance racial health equity in their communities, BLKHLTH created the Community Advocacy for Racial Equity School (CARES) fellowship program. BLKHLTH CARES seeks to shape both the future health workforce and healthier, more equitable futures for all. The purpose of the fellowship program is to equip the next generation of health professionals with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experiences necessary to effectively advocate for racial justice and health equity in their local communities. BLKHLTH CARES is being piloted with two cohorts of 30 undergraduate and graduate students on health career tracks in Atlanta, GA, and Washington, D.C. This presentation will cover the formation, key features, and initial findings from the BLKHLTH CARES pilots.