Creating healthy communities means much more than simply being able to see a doctor. To thrive, communities need safe, stable housing, access to nutritional food, reliable transportation, access to affordable treatments and much more. But the voices of communities – especially Black and Brown, rural and other underserved communities – are rarely heard in conversations at the state and local level that impact their health.
The new BeHeard BeHealthy PA initiative will create new ways for communities across Pennsylvania to participate in building healthier communities by making their voices heard through listening sessions, a new survey panel and advocating for community-driven priorities at the state and local levels. The Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) is collaborating with trusted and locally connected organizations across Pennsylvania to engage local communities and make their voices heard! PHAN is seeking community partners to assist. The role of each community partner is to facilitate community conversations, recruit members of the local community to join a new survey panel and identify community leaders to take part in statewide efforts to advance community driven policies at the state and local levels.