ICHS ‘Future of Health Equity’ panel engages community on collaboration, healthcare change in King County
The Future of Health Equity, A community conversation presented by ICHS, June 18, 2024.
International Community Health Services (ICHS) Foundation hosted a community conversation The Future of Health Equity on June 18, 2024 in Seattle. The convening brought together community health advocates to learn, network, and catalyze change in King County.
“Preventing disease starts with clean air, safe neighborhoods, access to fresh food, affordable housing, and reliable transportation,” said ICHS CEO Kelli Nomura, who opened the discussion by sharing about ICHS’s work and collaborations in the community. “Our organization is but one piece of the community health center and social services ecosystem responding to the needs of King County’s most vulnerable people.”
A panel to discuss health equity in King County included Matías Valenzuela, Director of the Office of Equity & Community Partnerships, Public Health — Seattle & King County; Sherryl Grey, ICHS Director of Community Health Services; and Nomura. Veteran journalist Enrique Cerna moderated the discussion.
The panel examined current challenges that patients and communities in King County face within the healthcare system. The event amplified the innovative strategies that community health centers like ICHS are employing to care for marginalized communities.
Nomura presented ICHS' future plans to expand its culturally-responsive elder care services for low-income older adults. The new facility, the Healthy Aging and Wellness Center will open in 2026 in the Beacon Pacific Village complex, right where the event took place. Its model of extensive wrap-around services empower seniors to stay active, stay connected, and stay rooted in their own homes and communities.
Speakers focused on ICHS’ and other community health centers’ partnerships with social service organizations led by marginalized communities, intentionally focusing on the relationship between basic needs and social determinants of health, and advocating for policies that close the racial-gap in health outcomes in King County.
Speakers emphasized the successes along with the challenges in today’s healthcare system. Together, advocates advance to expand and improve health equity for all residents of King County.
“People ask, ‘What role do I have to play?’ Well, we all have a role to play,” said Valenzuela. ”We are all part of the system [of community health]. You either create something better, or dismantle it, or you are perpetuating things that we are saying aren't working right now."
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