Health Equity Zone for Native Communities

Community-Driven Solutions for Health Equity 

Apply by Sunday, June 9

Health Equity Zones is a community-driven initiative, created from the understanding that people who are most impacted by health inequities are closest to the solutions that will improve their health. 
 
This initiative, created by legislation, supports a unique approach for the Washington State Department of Health to collaborate with community through participatory decision-making and innovative funding structures. Through the initiative, the Department of Health will collaborate with the selected health equity zones as they identify pressing health concerns, develop strategies that address their unique needs and strengths, and implement projects to improve the health of their community. 

The Health Equity Zones Community Advisory Council, comprised of Native, community, and sector leaders, established the foundation and vision for the Health Equity Zones Initiative. Native community representatives on the Community Advisory Council formed a Zone for Native Communities Subcommittee to develop submission guidelines, which includes a zone definition, eligibility criteria, and selection process. The subcommittee invited input on the selection process from Native leaders in Washington and led recruitment of an Indigenous Advisory Panel reflective of Tribal and Urban Native communities from across the state. The Indigenous Advisory Panel will review the submission forms and select the Health Equity Zone for Native Communities. 

The submission form for the Health Equity Zone for Native Communities opened on March 18, 2024. Tribal and Urban Native communities from across Washington are encouraged to apply. One community will be selected by the Indigenous Advisory Panel in this pilot phase of the Initiative. 
 
The selected community will receive flexible funding of $200,000 per year for two years that can be used towards developing organizational infrastructure to support community decision-making, identifying health priorities, and developing culturally relevant strategies. The Department of Health is committed to supporting the zone in securing additional funding that aligns with the identified health priorities to implement community selected strategies. 

 More Information: Open Submissions | Healthier Washington Collaboration Portal (waportal.org)