Place Matters Martin Luther King, Jr. County (WA)

Team Profile Summary

In King County, there are racial inequities in well-being that are influenced by such factors as: institutionalized racism, income, access to living-wage jobs,  access to education and resource-rich schools, neighborhoods and access to safe, affordable housing, and criminal justice involvement. Racism and inequities in income, educational attainment, housing, and criminal justice involvement result in health disparities.

Team Profile Details

Problem Statement:

King County is the largest county in Washington State. Although it ranks among the 100 most affluent counties by income in the United States, King County also has “some of the poorest people in the country such that within miles of each other, affluent and poor counties, the disparity in life expectancy is very high.”  In addition, the county has inequities and disparities in education, housing, economic development, transportation, and other determinants of health.  In regards to identifying a focus area, the team chose racism, with a plan to institutionalize equity and social justice within government agencies, branches, and departments in King County.

Team Objectives:

  1. Increase the capacity of King County departments to identify actions that will increase health and well-being and decrease inequities by developing an EIR tool. With this tool, new and existing King County programs, initiatives and policies can be assessed for their impact on equity.
  2. Give communities a role in the decision-making within the county, by enhancing existing efforts to involve the community.
  3. Work with local communities to partner with county staff and others to address their issues of concern.

For more information and to become involved, please contact: Team Lead: Ngozi Oleru, Public Health – Seattle & King County

Email: ngozi.oleru@kingcounty.gov

Phone: 206-263-8476