2024 KPHA-KY Annual Report
Dear Members and Partners of the Kentucky Public Health Association,
As we step into a momentous year, celebrating the 76th anniversary of KPHA, I am profoundly honored to serve as your first Black female president. This milestone is not just a reflection of personal achievement but underscores our collective commitment to addressing the profound challenges that racial inequities continue to pose to public health.
Our journey over the past years, especially amidst the declaration of racism as a public health crisis, has steered us towards intentional conversations and actions. It is essential to recognize that racial disparities in health are the result of individual or isolated phenomena deeply embedded in the structural and systemic fabric of our society over generations.
In 2024-2025, my focus will be on amplifying our efforts toward racial equity as a cornerstone of public health. This approach is multipronged, recognizing that solutions must address the various dimensions of systemic racism via myriad formulae:
Data-Driven Policies: We will prioritize collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data to better understand and address the disparities affecting our communities illustrated in the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s Health Equity Dashboard. This will inform our strategies and interventions, ensuring they are effective and equitable for vulnerable, disenfranchised, communities across the Commonwealth.
Community Engagement: Strengthening partnerships with community organizations that work directly with populations affected by health inequities will enhance our outreach and impact. These collaborations are vital in crafting culturally sensitive and impactful health initiatives.
Educational Empowerment: We will continue to invest in the education and training of current and future public health leaders, focusing on the importance of racial equity in all aspects of public health education and practice.
Legislative Advocacy: Advocating for and supporting policies that promote health equity and dismantle systemic barriers to healthcare access and quality is crucial. We will engage more actively with policymakers to promote laws and regulations that advance racial equity.
As we build on the strong foundation laid by our predecessors, our values of inclusion, integrity, excellence, and collaboration will guide us. We will uphold these ideals and actionable commitments in every decision and initiative.
Together, we can forge a path toward a healthier, more equitable Kentucky. I urge each of you to join us in this vital mission, whether through volunteering, partnership or simply advocating within your own circles. Change starts with us, and together, we are unstoppable.
Looking forward to what we will achieve together,
Dr. Danielle King
President, Kentucky Public Health Association