County plan looks to boost health care access

To foster a culture of health equity, Los Angeles County has launched a five-year plan and is requiring communities like the Santa Clarita Valley to partner in ensuring its success.

The Health Equity Action Plan, released Wednesday by the Los Angeles County Health Agency, will try to eliminate some of the most significant gaps in health outcomes and allow access to resources and opportunities for all.

“Health equity is essential in a society that values the well-being of all its members, to ensure that no one is left behind simply because of where they live and other factors,” said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas in a prepared statement.

The action plan was put together after equity data reports, plans and engagement activities were conducted.

The first year will include a startup period, followed by five years of implementation, according to the county’s public health website.

Implementation will revolve around five strategic priorities: eliminating gaps in health outcomes, providing useful and inclusive data, support policy and systems change, cultivate public and private partnerships and strengthen organizational readiness.

One way the plan describes to eliminate gaps is by reducing black infant mortality by 30 percent.

According to the action plan, black babies in the county experience more than three times the rate of infant mortality than white and Asian babies. The county’s black residents also face a 6.5year life expectancy gap when compared to white residents.

“In Los Angeles County, there are stark differences in health outcomes based on race and ethnicity, geography and income,” said Barbara Ferrer, director of the county’s Department of Public Health.

Other plan specifics include the elimination of congenital syphilis and the reduction of exposure to harmful toxins in lowincome communities. Ensuring that health services are accessible and culturally and linguistically appropriate is also a stated goal in the fiveyear plan.

While the action plan is just a draft, a revised version is scheduled to be available by November.

The county plans to hold public forums and is now taking public comment for feedback to include in the revised plan.

“This plan is purely community driven,” said Erick Matos, health deputy for Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “Public Health released its plan to engage with each community and it’ll be really dependent on feedback, including from residents of the Santa Clarita Valley.”

For more information, visit publichealth.lacounty.gov/CenterForHealthEquity/ActionPlan. html.