Last week, the Clark County Board of Health passed a resolution declaring systemic racism a public health crisis. The resolution is supported by local medical, behavioral health, social service and community organizations, and is an important step toward addressing disparities in health outcomes for people of color in a systemic way. In Washington, Clark County joins King, Pierce, Spokane, Snohomish and Whatcom counties in passing such a resolution.
To be labeled a public health crisis, a problem should meet three key measures: It affects large numbers of people, it threatens health over the long term, and addressing it requires large-scale solutions. All of these are true with regard to systemic racism, which leads to inequalities that result from inextricably linked, complex factors.
Public health studies over more than three decades have led to this conclusion. Discriminatory housing, land use and transportation policies; unfair local and state school financing systems; unequal access to quality health care; unequal justice; and ongoing prejudice and acts of discrimination have created a system that disproportionately harms the health of people of color. All of these systems began decades if not centuries ago. And while some of the creating circumstances have been corrected, many have not — they are built into systems that operate today.
Rather than deny responsibility, it is imperative leaders acknowledge this crisis and take steps to correct it. A resolution is not a law. It is a formal expression of intent. This resolution shows intent for three primary areas of impact:
• Policy guidance. The resolution supports and directs staff to identify conditions and recommend policies that reduce the disparate impact of systemic conditions on communities of color.
• Funding opportunities. This resolution will increase the county’s eligibility for funding opportunities to help it address the impact of systemic racism on public health. It also encourages the council to weigh racial disparities when allocating funding for services.
• Trust-building. Clark County signals to communities of color that we see and acknowledge this problem, and we are undertaking the work to address it.
Clark County should be a safe place to live and thrive, in good health, for every person who lives here. This resolution gets us one step closer to making that vision a reality.
Thank you to the Southwest Washington chapter of LULAC Council for initiating this conversation many months ago, and to the many community partners who submitted letters of support: The mayors of Vancouver, Battle Ground, Camas, La Center, Ridgefield and Washougal; PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center; Kaiser Permanente Northwest; Vancouver Clinic; Lifeline Connections; Columbia River Mental Health Services; NAMI Southwest Washington; Consumer Voices Are Born; Children’s Home Society of Washington; Southwest Washington Accountable Communities of Health; Community Foundation of Southwest Washington; Trillium Employment Services; Council for the Homeless; Impact NW; Janus Youth Programs; Clark County Community Action Advisory Board; Proud Ground; Share; Friends of Clark County; NAACP Vancouver Branch; Southwest Washington Communities United for Change; YWCA Clark County; Odyssey World International Education Services; WEA-Riverside; and Educational Opportunities for Children and Families.
Temple Lentz is a Clark County councilor representing District 1.
