Start Date: May 2023

Organization: Public Health Law Center

Project Lead: Julie Ralston Aoki, JD

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The project aims to provide a preliminary assessment of how Racial and Health Equity Impact Assessments (R/HEIAs) are being applied to state and local laws and proposed laws related to healthy eating and food access. The researchers will identify and collect examples of R/HEIAs conducted on healthy eating and related food policies, analyze the R/HEIAs, and develop preliminary recommendations addressing 1) food policy specific considerations that decisionmakers should consider when conducting and applying R/HEIAs; 2) R/HEIA-related considerations advocates should consider when developing healthy eating and related food policy proposals. The four steps in the outlined research plan are: 1) Identify R/HEIAs related to state/local food-relevant policies; 2) Conduct a formative content analysis of the identified R/HEIAs; 3) Evaluate and assess R/HEIA rigor and accuracy; and 4) Convene an informal advisory group consisting of government staff who conduct R/HEIAs and food policy advocates.

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