LeadingAge is encouraging members to submit nominations for the Robert Wood John Foundation Award for Health Equity.
The award recognizes an individual or a team of two individuals who have successfully implemented a systems change approach to reducing health disparities. The applications can be submitted here. The deadline is April 30.
The award, which carries a $3,000 prize, will be presented by LeadingAge at this year’s Annual Meeting and EXPO, which takes place Oct. 29-Nov. 1 in New Orleans.
Alisha Sanders, LeadingAge’s director of housing and services policy research, suggests that nominees might include staff members of LeadingAge member organizations that are bringing new services and resources to their communities in order to:
- Increase access to health care, which could include improving physical access, helping individuals navigate across complex care systems, and/or making health care more understandable and approachable for individuals with low health literacy
- Address the social determinants of health
- Improve opportunities for vulnerable and disadvantaged older adults to achieve good health outcomes
Nominees will be considered for the award if they have successfully implemented a systems change approach to reducing health disparities within the past two years. Work of the nominee also should:
- Align with RWJF’s vision for building a Culture of Health and achieving health equity
- Demonstrate success in changing systems that impact health outcomes in one or more of the following areas: access to quality care, education, employment, income, community environment, housing, and public safety
- Provide a solution to improve outcomes for groups most affected by health disparities
