Action Steps to Address Health and Educational Disparities

The following action steps have been proposed by CDC for consideration by state and local education and health agencies to address health and educational disparities among students.

Focus Programmatic Efforts

• Analyze data to identify which groups of youth are at high risk for targeted problems or risk behaviors
• Target efforts and resources to support policy and programmatic efforts that address the needs of youth in high-risk groups
• Support the design and implementation of evidence-based, culturally- and linguistically-appropriate interventions and programs that focus on youth at high risk

Raise Awareness

• Learn more about the causes of disparities and about evidence-based strategies for effectively addressing specific issues among specific groups of youth at high risk
• Educate policy makers, the public, and other agencies and organizations about health and educational disparities, their causes, and evidence-based strategies for effectively addressing specific issues among specific groups of youth at high risk

Build Partnerships

• Strengthen and sustain partnerships with agencies and organizations serving youth at high risk
• Participate in broad coalitions that work to address the root causes of health and educational disparities (e.g., poverty, access to health care, discrimination)
• Actively involve youth at high risk in advisory boards or youth councils that plan programs to address health and educational disparities

Document Impact

• Monitor health outcomes and behaviors among youth at high risk and, if possible, policies and programs that address these outcomes and behaviors among these youth
• Evaluate activities and programs that focus on youth at high risk, and use findings to improve programs
• Document and share broadly the successes, challenges, and lessons learned in reaching youth at high risk