HHS works on strategies to improve the design, delivery, and outcomes of HHS programs by prioritizing science, evidence, and inclusion. The Department leverages stakeholder engagement, communication, and collaboration to build and implement evidence-based interventions and approaches for stronger health, public health, and human services outcomes. Below is a selection of strategies HHS is implementing.
In the context of HHS, this Strategic Plan adopts the definition of underserved populations listed in Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government to refer to “populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, who have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life”; this definition includes individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. Individuals may belong to more than one underserved community and face intersecting barriers.
Contributing OpDivs and StaffDivs
All OpDivs and StaffDivs contribute to achievement of this objective.
Strategies
Leverage stakeholder engagement, communication, and collaboration to build and implement evidence-based interventions for stronger health, public health, and human services outcomes
- Promote an evidence-based approach to the design, redesign, implementation, and quality of HHS programs, to inform decision making, improve oversight, and strengthen data integrity and program fidelity.
- Improve communication and collaboration across HHS to bring together research and evaluation to better inform the translation of evidence throughout the Department.
- Promote sharing of lessons learned between grantees, from grantees to HHS staff, and where applicable, to the broader community.
- Build participation into research agendas by engaging stakeholders, including those with lived experience and citizen scientists, in the design and revision of evaluation and data collection systems and advancing equity amongst researchers and those communities targeted or underrepresented by research efforts.
- Improve communication and access to community members to facilitate transparent flow of information and education regarding HHS programs.
