Bringing together diverse partners to create a space for mutual learning and listening to communities facing the greatest inequities and their proposed solutions.
Working Together to Advance Health Equity
2026 Health Equity Council Conference
Join us for a day of cross-sector collaboration, shared learning, and the kickoff of the 2026 Kent County Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) – a critical tool for turning data and community insight into opportunities for deeper alignment and collective actions that advance health equity.
In partnership with Grand Valley State University Master of Public Health program, the Health Equity Council Conference presents this year’s conference theme, Beyond the Numbers: Aligning Data and Community Dialogue for Community-Driven Change. This theme reflects the heart of the CHNA process: understanding community needs not just through quantitative data, but through the lived experiences, wisdom, and leadership of those most impacted by inequities.
Breakout sessions, panels, and keynote presentations will highlight different aspects of the community health improvement cycle—from equitable data practices to community-led solutions, to cross-sector collaboration and policy alignment. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how to engage in the 2026 CHNA process, along with practical tools to better understand community needs, center lived experiences and take coordinated action within their organizations and across partners to advance health equity.
Goals
- Listen well to communities facing the greatest inequities and understand their priorities and proposed solutions.
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Bring systems together to decrease duplication, improve communication, align efforts, and provide resources and support.
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Improve trust with community and between organizations.
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Improve equity in data by integrating the work of the Council in the Community Health Needs Assessment/Community Health Improvement Plan process.
History
The Health Equity Council (HEC) was established in 2022 to enhance community relationships built during the COVID-19 pandemic and address health disparities facing the diverse populations who call Kent County home. The formation of the Council was supported by three backbone organizations, the Kent County Health Department, the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute and the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, who continue to provide Convening Support to Council activities.
Made up of community-based organizations (CBOs) and community members representing diverse racial and ethnic groups and geographic areas faced with barriers to achieving optimal health, the Council members bring Community Voice to pressing health issues. Brainstorming and Prioritization sessions with Council members in late 2022 and early 2023 identified Mental Health as an area of focus for the Council, leading to the formation of Action Teams to devise strategies to impact factors that contribute to poor mental health in the community.
Achieving community health improvement requires involvement of a variety of public health system partners. To address this, the Health Equity Council has funded three rounds of mini grants, distributing over $587,000 to 59 projects that address the HEC objectives for mental health, community safety, and the top priorities identified in the 2023 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). The most recent round of mini grants provided funds ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 to five community organizations in February 2026.
Health Equity Council partners were heavily involved in gathering data from their respective populations during the 2023 Kent County Community Health Needs Assessment, ensuring that voices of communities who were often overlooked were heard, resulting in a community survey sample that was reflective of the overall Kent County population.
February 2024 saw the formation of the HEC Advisory Board to bring together representatives of health systems, insurance providers, academia, government, and CBOs to mobilize resources and support the work of the HEC.
Health Equity Council Structure
Community Voice
Action Teams
Convening Support
Advisory Board
Priorities
Priorities are determined by the Kent County Community Health Needs Assessment. Strategies to address these priories are developed and included in the Community Health Improvement Plan. A major goal of the CHNA/CHIP is to collaborate with the community, stakeholders, and cross-sector partners to coordinate resources and reduce duplication. The CHIP is a shared community effort with shared ownership. To achieve maximum impact on the identified health priorities, it is most effective to engage partners who are already doing work in a specific area, or who have the expertise and organizational strengths to lead certain initiatives.
Access to Health Care
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Reduce linguistic and cultural barriers to improve access to medical care.
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Reduce barriers to navigating the health insurance system.
Community Safety
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Improve relationships between police and community
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Increase feelings of safety among K-12 students
Housing
Increase access to safe housing options
Access to Healthy Food
Reduce inequities in access to affordable healthy food options
Mental Health
Increase access to mental health support and reduce stigma
Resources
Community Safety
Connect with local law enforcement! Explore opportunities to get involved with Grand Rapids Police Department and other local law enforcement.
Mental Health Resources
Find helpful information and local resources for getting help for someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis.
Community Event Calendar
Find helpful information and local resources for getting help for someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis.