The CSTE Health Equity Subcommittee is committed to addressing the root causes of health inequities from systematic differences rooted in social, economic, and environmental disadvantages that led to poorer health outcomes for marginalized populations.
The Health Equity Subcommittee includes epidemiologists from diverse backgrounds such as infectious disease, chronic disease, environmental health, occupational health, and more. The Subcommittee supports epidemiologists across all CSTE sections and communities by promoting practices that integrate equity into surveillance, data analysis, and public health decision-making.
The Subcommittee aims to advance health equity by using epidemiology to address environmental, racial/ethnic, and socioeconomic health inequities. This work is carried out collaboratively through bimonthly subcommittee meetings, providing a space for shared learning, strategy, and coordinated action.
Developing a Legal Intervention Surveillance System:
The purpose of developing a Legal Intervention Surveillance System is to establish standardized case definitions, so that state and local health departments can adopt and apply newly created surveillance definition activities in their jurisdictions. We also envision the adoption of LEIFE case definition into more surveillance systems to support understanding of the severe undercounted. This workgroup is to convene CSTE members via virtual bimonthly calls to identify needs and priorities for STLT epidemiology capacity building to support effective implementation of the CSTE position statement “Standardized surveillance case definition for law enforcement-involved injuries and fatal encounters (LEIFE) among community members”. To get involved, please complete this sign-up form.
Surveillance System Goals
- Design and stand up a robust injury and LEIFE surveillance system, with case definitions and data sources
- Collaborate with health departments to establish counts and rates over various jurisdictions
- Regularly analyze data to have a general understanding of LEIFE burden; identify high-risk population groups; provide analysis that can lead to prevention recommendations.
Resources:
The Health Equity Subcommittee has completed various projects in the past:
For more information about the Health Equity Subcommittee and its activities, please contact Colin Gerber.
