Accountable Communities for Health (ACHs) are led by a backbone organization. Traditionally, this role is filled by an organization within the healthcare sector, such as a hospital or clinic system. ACH backbone leadership from outside the healthcare sector brings different perspectives to the work, as well as challenges to navigate. In this session, Leaders from Texas Accountable Communities for Health Initiative (TACHI) non-healthcare backbone sites will share their experiences, plans, and learnings to date.

Food access and consumption are key health indicators for communities. This community health center established partnerships with local food banks and food pantries to develop Food Prescription (Food Rx) and Door Dash delivery programs that work to improve access to healthy foods and address diet-related chronic diseases. Examine the insights gained from community partnerships & their power to address medical & social needs for vulnerable populations.

El Paso County’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative invests in food retail projects that increase the availability of healthy and affordable food in high-need areas. This panel includes three distinct program partners who will discuss the cross-sector partnership, roles, and lessons learned that support private and non-profit food retail enterprises pursue projects to increase access to healthy food.

Focus on how one community clinic developed partnerships with community organizations such as parks and recreation, local police, and a neighborhood association to improve park conditions so that residents would have a safe place to exercise, meet, and build community in order to reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and other health disparities. Discussion of unusual resources such as landscape architects can be partnered with as allies in addressing community health.

Panelists will discuss successes/challenges related to food access and nutrition education, how to address institutional racism and potential biases within their organizations, and how to elevate systemic change to ensure communities are receiving equitable food access and nutrition education.

Dental caries is the most common childhood disease with 68% of kindergarten children having tooth decay. Children with poor oral health are more than two times likely to perform poorly in school, and children with cavities in their baby teeth are three times more likely to get cavities in their adult teeth. The Texas 83rd legislative session added oral health as a required topic to the state education code.

Understand the intersection of programs and policies at a federal, state and local level to transform our public health system and advance health equity.

The Healthy Kids, Healthy Families grant is an initiative led by BCBSTX that’s operating in its 10th year. This year, a pivotal change was made to focus on funding programs that are beyond the traditional focus of nutrition and physical activity. Learn more on the process, relationships, implementation, and impact of this change.