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Harnessing the Power of Community Engagement for Population Health
GUEST EDITORIAL ¡ª Volume 22 ¡ª June 5, 2025
PEER REVIEWED
This model consists of a series of 4 ovals, plus a circle, set inside a larger oval. The larger oval is titled Health Equity Through Transformed Systems for Health. At the top of the perimeter of this larger oval is the text Drivers of health, Drivers of change in health and health care, and Social, political, racial, economic, historical, and environmental context. Arrows along the perimeter of larger oval indicate the iterative process of this model. Starting on the left, the title of the first smaller oval is Strengthened Partnerships and Alliances, and it lists the following elements: Diversity and inclusivity; Partnerships and opportunities; Acknowledgment, visibility, recognition; Sustained relationships; Mutual value; Trust; Shared power; and Structural supports for community engagement. The title of the next oval is Expanded Knowledge, and it lists the following elements: New curricula, strategies, and tools; bi-directional learning; and community-ready information. The title of the third oval is Improved Health and Health Care Programs and Policies, and it lists the following elements: Community-aligned solutions; Actionable, implemented, recognized solutions; and Sustainable solutions. The title of the fourth oval is Thriving Communities, and it lists the following elements: Physical and mental health; Community capacity and connectivity; Community power; Community resiliency; and Life quality and well-being. The four ovals are hinged at the bottom to a circle (like the spokes on a wheel). In the center of the circle is Community Engagement. Surrounding the center are the Core Principles: Co-equal, Co-created, Ongoing, Shared governance, Multi-knowledge, Equitably financed, Culturally centered, Bi-directional, and Trust. A bidirectional arrow has been added between the circle for Community Engagement and Health Equity Through Transformed Systems of Health to indicate the evolution of the field of community engagement.
Figure. A conceptual model to advance health equity through transformed systems for health. Elements in red were added by the authors. Adapted with permission from the National Academy of Medicine. The model is available online at https://nam.edu/product/achieving-health-equity-and-systems-transformation-through-community-engagement-a-conceptual-model.
The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors’ affiliated institutions.