Watch a short video of Dr. Gail Christopher describing equitable approaches to data and what gives her hope for the future.
Growing our knowledge and understanding of how to achieve health equity is a fundamental part of RWJF’s approach. RWJF has invested in efforts to better understand how policies and systems need to be changed so that all children can grow up healthy.
We have funded efforts that support hundreds of researchers from different backgrounds and areas of expertise to examine these issues. They have studied settings from childcare to schools to communities, as well as the impact of food pricing, labeling, marketing, and nutrition standards on children’s health. RWJF has also collaborated with partners in other sectors, including federal agencies and research academies, to ensure diverse perspectives are working together on shared solutions to shared problems.
Data show that many of the systems and policies that shape our lives and our opportunities to be healthy do not impact all families and children equally. Some were intentionally designed to exclude or harm people of color and people with low incomes. To prevent that going forward, RWJF is working to ensure that the people doing the research bring a diverse range of lived experiences and approaches to their work.
LESSON LEARNED: When research is inclusive, the innovations benefit everyone.
