Charting the Course from Health Disparities to Health Equity

2013 - 2017 Strategic Plan

Our Vision & Mission

VISION: “All Black women will enjoy optimal health in a society

that promotes health equity and social justice.”

MISSION: Advance health equity and social justice for Black

women across the lifespan through policy and advocacy, education, research and leadership development.

Our Core Values• Justice: We work to advance equal opportunities for Black

women to be well. We seek to transform systemic practices such as racism, sexism, and internalized oppression. • Self Determination: We support the right and ability of Black

women to have bodily autonomy, and to make decisions about their health and their futures, politically, socially and culturally.• Respect: We respect Black women by being truthful and honest,

providing accurate information and being responsive to their needs and interests. • Credibility: We only take on those issues and actions that support

the interests of Black women and that are true to our vision and mission.

We Define Health Equity

“The state of health that exists when social, political and economic barriers are removed so that every Black woman and girl has the freedom to choose behaviors and services

which promote her optimum health—physically, emotionally and financially. ”

Our Focus: Achieving Health Equity• The Imperative believes that Health Equity is the

realization by ALL people of the highest attainable level of health.• Achieving Health Equity involves addressing the

unnecessary and avoidable inequalities by assuring the conditions of optimal health are in place.• We must go beyond the immediate causes of the

disease and explore the “causes of the causes” – those structures of social hierarchy – sexism, classism, racism, ageism – and the conditions these create where Black women grow, live, work, play and age.

Our Core Constituency: Target Populations• Primary: Black women ages 18-34• Secondary: Black women ages 35-64

Our Core Constituency: Target Geographic AreasCities representing high burdens of priority health issues:▪ Atlanta, GA▪ Baltimore, MD▪ Charlotte, NC▪ Chicago, IL▪ Detroit, MI▪ Indianapolis, IN▪ Los Angeles, CA▪ New Orleans, LA▪ St. Louis, MO▪ Hampton Roads, VA▪ Washington, D.C

Our Five-Year Strategic Plan

The five-year strategic plan articulates our key priorities

and approaches for advancing the vision and

mission of the organization.

2013-2017

Our Strategic Plan: Through the Imperative Lens

Access to CareOverall Wellness

Sexual Health and Reproductive Justice

Through the Imperative Lens, allows us to focus on our core issues and their interconnectivity to advance our mission of achieving health equity for Black women and girls. • Sexual Health and Reproductive Justice

• Overall Wellness

• Access to Care

Strategy Articulation Map 2014-2017

KEY SUCCESS FACTORS

DriversBLACK WOMEN’S HEALTH MATTERS

MISSION & VALUES

Aligned Policy & Programs Agenda

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Clearly defined health equity concept across policy,

programs and communications

KEY METRICS

New funders and donors increased by 25%

Established Federal and state health policy and programs

agenda

Strategic communications plan to drive understanding of RJ issues for Black women

Expand and diversify funding to achieve long-term financial

sustainably

New campaign frames and messages developed that

Integrate health policy and health education campaigns

Adoption of Imperative’s agenda by national and

Black women’s organizations

Seamless, integrated organizational agenda

addressing health inequities across priority areas through

policy, program and communications.

Engaged Constituency

of 18 – 34 Year OldsBrand Recognition

Affiliated Organizational

Structure In Target Cities

Our Strategic Framework

This strategic framework sets forth the Imperative’s direction for achieving and advancing health equity.

Core Goal

Priorities

Core Approaches

AchievingHealth Equity

Sexual Health & Reproductive

JusticeWellness

Advocacy & Public

Policy

Education & Training Research Leadership

Development

Affordable Care Act

•Organize and align all organizational activities – policy and advocacy, programs , leadership development, research and communications – under the Health Equity Framework.

•Promote development and implementation of women-centered health policies and programs and culturally and gender appropriate health messages.

•Build, strengthen and expand our networks and alliances across sectors.

Common Agenda Create a shared,

comprehensive and integrated health policy,

programs and communications agenda.

• Increase organizational visibility, leadership and sustainability.

•Implement strategies to advance social policies and programs.

•Articulate core, consistent messages for advancing health equity.

Strategic Communications Create a culture of

continuous, targeted communications to share our

work and engage constituents, media and

stakeholders.

Our Alignment ApproachPosition the Imperative to lead the Black women’s health movement in addressing

racial-and gender-based inequities in order to achieve optimum health and wellness.

Aligning Our Priorities and Issues

Abortion Access

Breast and Cervical Cancers

Contraception Access

HIV/AIDS

Maternal Health

Relationship Violence

Sexual Assault

Sexual Health and Reproductive

Justice

Heart Disease

Obesity

Lifestyle Balance

DiabetesWellnessEssential Women’s

Health Benefits

Access to Health Insurance

Affordable Care Act

Our Health Equity Framework

Strategies and ObjectivesSTRATEGY 1

Adopt a comprehensive health equity framework to advance improved health outcomes for Black women.

(Full implementation by February 2014)

OBJECTIVE 1Develop a clearly defined

health equity concept that addresses the root causes and

social determinants that influence the health of Black

women.

OBJECTIVE 2Assess and align current

organizational priorities for policy, health programs and communications within the health equity framework.

OBJECTIVE 3Fully operationalize the health

equity framework.

Strategies and ObjectivesSTRATEGY 2

Develop a comprehensive, integrated health policy and programs agenda around the key issue areas.

(Full implementation by February 2014)

OBJECTIVE 1Establish a federal and state health policy and

advocacy agenda related to health

equity and reproductive justice.

OBJECTIVE 2Establish an overall health policy and

programs roadmap to bring attention to and

advance key health equity issues.

OBJECTIVE 3Strengthen and expand

innovative reproductive justice

initiatives.

OBJECTIVE 4Align the health

program initiatives with health policy and

advocacy priorities.

Strategies and ObjectivesSTRATEGY 3

Leverage strategic communications to drive understanding of health and social justice issues for Black women.

(Full implementation by November 2014)

OBJECTIVE 1Develop and disseminate messages, materials and products to educate constituents and key

stakeholders on health equity and lifestyle change issues for Black women.

OBJECTIVE 2Strengthen the capacity of Imperative

leadership, staff and partners to influence and shape the dialogue and perceptions around health and social justice for Black women.

Strategies and ObjectivesSTRATEGY 4

Establish partnerships and alliances with organizations in targeted states.

(Full implementation by June 2015)

OBJECTIVE 1Mobilize communities and individuals through established relationships in strategic locations

across the country.

OBJECTIVE 2Mobilize national, state, and community organizations, leaders, and individuals to

advocate the Imperative’s health policy and programs agenda.

Strategies and ObjectivesSTRATEGY 5

Strengthen the management, governance, and funding base to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Imperative.

(Full implementation by 2017)

OBJECTIVE 3Institutionalize fund development with

emphasis on increasing unrestricted funding

from individual donors and corporations.

OBJECTIVE 1Engage 100% of Board members in cultivation

activities.

OBJECTIVE 2Build a high donor

giving program comprising 50-100 donors of $500 or

more.

OBJECTIVE 4Advance effective governance and management practices with accountability

measures.