Why Bus Lines Aren’t Run by Health Departments 

As public health practitioners, we understand that many drivers of health are beyond the traditional scope of our departments. I recently heard someone say, “I can’t create a bus system run by the health department!” It was a lighthearted comment – but it captured a serious truth: the challenges we face are too complex for any one agency to solve alone. By centering communities most impacted by health inequities, we can design interventions that are effective, equitable, and publicly supported.    

And— good news! —we have tools to help us think about how we build partnerships with community.