WED-020 - Operationalizing Health Equity Through Cross-sector Collaboration in Sacramento, CA

Brief Abstract Summary: Gain practical strategies to advance racial equity through intentional relationship-building, inclusive program and cross-department collaboration. Learn how Sacramento County’s Health and Racial Equity (HRE) Unit evolved from internal capacity-building to leading countywide initiatives, including the inaugural Racial Equity Summit. Discover how public health education can serve as a catalyst for systems change by fostering trust, elevating staff voice, and bridging silos. Walk away with tools to operationalize equity in your own agency and sustain long-term impact.

Detailed abstract description: In 2020, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors declared racism a public health crisis, prompting a system-wide commitment to advancing equity. In response, the Public Health Division established the Health and Racial Equity (HRE) Unit in April 2022.
The Unit initially focused on strengthening internal capacity throughout the public health division coming off the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic; efforts quickly evolved into a catalyst for countywide equity efforts.
As a Health Educator in the HRE Unit, I have supported the operationalization of racial equity through education, staff engagement, and inclusive program development. This work included supporting internal trainings, equity assessments, and co-developing tools to align staff and leadership with racial equity frameworks. The Unit’s growing visibility and impact-built trust across departments, leading to an invitation from the County Personnel Office to coordinate the inaugural Sacramento County Racial Equity Summit.
This presentation highlights how relationship-building and cross-sector collaboration can scale equity across public systems. By establishing strong working partnerships with departments such as Behavioral Health Services, Personnel Services, and Information Technology (IT), the HRE team co-planned a multi-departmental summit that prioritized accessibility, cultural humility, and inclusive representation. These partnerships continue to support critical county functions, from internal communications to system-level project coordination.
During the session, the presenter will walk attendees through the development and implementation of the 2023 Racial Equity Summit and share preliminary outcomes from the 2025 event. The presentation will outline how goals were co-developed, how inclusive content was curated, and how accessibility was prioritized for diverse audiences. Reflections will also be shared on the challenges and lessons learned in coordinating countywide efforts across departments with varying missions, cultures, and capacities.
Participants will leave with:
• Proven methods for building internal capacity to support equity within public health agencies
• Tools for organizing inclusive and accessible events, including strategies to elevate community and staff voices
• Approaches to cross-departmental collaboration that foster trust, reduce silos, and increase shared ownership
• Real-world lessons from Sacramento County’s first and second Racial Equity Summits, including what worked, what didn’t, and how to adapt
Whether attendees are at the beginning of their equity journey or looking to deepen organizational impact, this session offers actionable guidance for embedding equity into the everyday work of government. By centering lived experience and fostering authentic relationships, public health professionals can serve as trusted collaborators and catalysts for long-term, systemic change.