Children’s Minnesota launched the Community Advisory Council in June 2023 to help advise our strategies for health equity and community engagement. The council works collaboratively with Children’s Minnesota’s Collective for Community Health to ensure representation of diverse community voices.
About the Community Advisory Council
In 2016, Children’s Minnesota was the first health system in the state to name structural racism as a priority health issue in our Community Health Needs Assessment as it relates to all aspects of life, including employment, education, health, income and housing. Since then, Children’s Minnesota’s Collective for Community Health was established to lead strategies to address structural racism and health related social needs within and outside of the walls of our hospitals and clinics.
The Community Advisory Council is an integral part of advancing that work. As part of our mission to be every family’s partner in raising healthier kids, the council:
- Represents and advocates for the communities that Children’s Minnesota serves.
- Engages with the community, including children and families who use our health system to understand their needs.
- Supports the design of programs and projects that positively impact community health, including the development of the Children’s Minnesota Community Health Needs Assessment and the Community Health Innovation Fund grant program.
- Advises on Children’s Minnesota initiatives and strategies.
- Supports Children’s Minnesota in building partnerships and collaborations with community organizations.