Council on Health Disparities
Trillium’s Council on Health Disparities launched in January 2024 to ensure that every community and individual we serve has the opportunity to reach their highest level of health.
The Council amplifies the voices of over 30 community members and stakeholders representing populations primarily served by Trillium that may face added barriers in accessing services and supports. We include representatives from our Consumer and Family Advisory Committees (CFACs), people of color, including Black, Native American, Asian American, and Latine individuals, LGBTQ+ people, those who primarily speak Spanish, residents of rural areas, and people who have difficulty accessing resource needs, such as transportation, stable housing, or fresh food options.
The Council focuses on the following:
- Improve access to health care using quality and accurate data.
- Increase stakeholder representation and engagement in improvement initiatives.
- Improve staff diversity, especially in leadership.
- Improve health education outcomes for populations systemically discriminated against.
- Develop new programs to promote health awareness.
- Help end policies, systems, and environments that create disparities.
Trillium Council on Health Disparities Principles:
The Council on Health Disparities is rooted in the principles of people, place, and partnership. We realize every community is different and we seek to understand and meet the unique needs of every county and community we serve. At Trillium, the Council and its principles guide our work and are essential to reducing health disparities in local communities.
Our members are the experts in their health care needs. This means we listen—to our members, neighbors and community stakeholders—because they are the experts in what works and what doesn’t.
- The Council on Health Disparities engages Member and stakeholders to help us:
Develop priorities, strategies, and solutions that improve health and access to care for populations systemically discriminated against by fostering a representative, culturally responsive workforce and leadership that understand and reflect the communities we serve. - Tailor evidence-based programs to meet unique needs—whether that’s language, culture, or improving access in rural areas. We know that every community is different.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen member outreach by enhancing our health awareness and literacy messaging and materials.
Geography can affect health outcomes; rural areas most often experience a shortage of health care providers. At Trillium, we also understand the health is about more than medical care. We know that most health outcomes are shaped by where people live, learn, work, and play. That’s why meeting health-related resource needs, is also critical to our work in reducing health disparities.
As part of the Council you will:
- Make recommendations to meet health-related resource needs, such as food, housing and transportation in your community.
- Share both the barriers to health and the strengths within your community to create solutions.
- Amplify local voices, as we know that every community is different.
We know that partnership is critical and together we can create real, lasting solutions for everyone. Because health and health care is for everyone.
As part of the Council you will:
- Identify local community partners and trusted messengers—people who can share information and empower others to take charge of their health. These partners might include providers, community nonprofits, faith-based organizations, tribal leaders, and local residents.
- Strengthen your community by sharing information about the resources and support available through Trillium and our partners.
- Foster inclusion and acceptance through outreach and community engagement building relationships and partnerships.