National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference 2024

McConnell-Soong, Peutz, J, Toomey, M, and Howard, T.

This session will focus on University of Idaho Extension’s goal of
establishing health equity as a core value by integrating poverty competency throughout the
system. A case study presentation will be structured around three components: context,
concepts, and big considerations. We will first share our experience of bringing poverty
competency work to UI Extension, illustrate how this example fits into a multidirectional template for change,
and identify for consideration the paradigm shifts necessary to support an actionable commitment to
health equity in our Extension systems.

Despite a surprising lack of in-depth poverty training for policymakers from local to national
levels, there is no shortage of theoretical and statistical support for its importance, particularly
when addressing health equity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recently
added poverty as a local level social determinant of health, acknowledging that multipronged
approaches are required to address the impact of 41% of US households lacking enough income
to meet basic needs. Building upon the foundation of Idaho’s participation in the Well
Connected Communities national health initiative and the Extension Collaborative on
Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE), our teams have committed to establishing
health equity as a core system value by increasing poverty competency within Extension and
our communities. Training and mentorship from leading poverty researcher Dr. Donna Beegle
has resulted in 14 Certified Poverty Coaches across our statewide Extension system and the
establishment of an Extension Poverty Competency Task Force. This Task Force has been
engaging internal partners to provide competency training for leaders in 4-H, the Digital
Economy Program, and the UI Extension Health and Wellness Priority team. Idaho’s current
EXCITE project partners with local health districts to provide poverty training for application
to immunization education, with evaluation of impact provided by the Idaho Office of
Underserved and Rural Medical Research. Conversations surrounding these trainings has
resulted in collaborative discussions with our state’s largest health system and the Idaho
Department of Health and Welfare.

Increasing poverty competency is not the only approach to strengthening our systems’
commitments to health equity, but it makes sense when considering its intersections with both
Extension and public health. Each are defined by their priorities of understanding one’s
community, valuing research, and providing resources to improve quality of life. There is a
clear connection between the content of Extension’s educational programs and the struggles
faced by those in poverty: chronic disease, nutrition insecurity, financial well-being,
immunization rates, agricultural work, mental health, and stress. While there is no simple
process for infusing these connections into a new foundation for health equity, the goal of this
session is to leave attendees with a clear example, a guiding template, and new conversations
that must continue – not only nationally, but in our states, counties, and coalitions.