About ARCHE

We envision a diverse and inclusive society that promotes health, opportunity and economic and social wellbeing for everyone. Realizing this vision requires us to work collectively to transform systems, policies and practices, at every societal level as well as environments that systemically prevent disadvantaged communities and populations from experiencing good health. From ensuring quality housing, transportation, and access to healthy foods or education and jobs, equity is the key to creating the conditions for people and communities to thrive.

What We Do

Allies for Reaching Community Health Equity (ARCHE) advances equity-centered strategies that strengthen families and communities and build a culture of health.

Led by the Center for Global Policy Solutions (CGPS) and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), ARCHE promotes resources, learning, thought leadership, collaboration, and innovative solutions that advance health equity. Through ARCHE activities and partnerships, CGPS aims to strengthen the skills and capacity of practitioners, community leaders and policymakers to combat disparities by race, gender, geography, and income while building a culture that supports healthier people, families and communities.

ARCHE includes several innovative components designed to promote equitable public health strategies across the social determinants of health (e.g., poverty, housing, transportation, education) including:

• The Health Equity Design (HED) Lab convenes representatives from philanthropy, health researchers, practitioners, cross-sector leaders, and community stakeholders to incubate and vet the best strategies and innovative solutions to be used by the field at large to drive change. Findings from HED Labs are synthesized in reports, fact sheets, and other communications to facilitate dissemination and adoption of recommendations and strategies that promote equitable outcomes.
• The Culture of Health Institute for Leadership Development (CHILD) is designed to build health equity capacity and leadership in the public health field. Through online and in-person trainings and learning conversations, CHILD facilitates the adoption of equity-centered theories, tools, policies and best practices across the social determinants of health. CHILD’s offerings accelerate the ability of participants to apply an equity lens and address health inequities through effective community engagement, cross-sector partnership, and policy advocacy strategies.
• The ARCHE Action Collaborative convenes representatives from national health, civil rights and philanthropic organizations to build consensus and engage in collective action in support of strategies and solutions that address structural barriers to the health, economic security, and full inclusion of disadvantaged populations and communities in our democracy.
• ARCHE’s Health Equity Experts Network (“the Network”) aims to amplify the voices of health equity experts by connecting journalists with leaders from across academia, government, corporate, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors who have demonstrated a particular focus on underserved communities. The expertise of Network members is highlighted through media outreach and special events where the collective efforts of respected experts in the field can make a difference.
• ARCHE’s communications strategy influences the national conversation on health equity by shining light on the often overlooked connection between health and socioeconomic inequality for policymakers, community and business leaders, health practitioners, and families who face inequities in health every day. Through Network members, the Action Collaborative, and other program resources, ARCHE promotes stories, ideas, and messages that raise visibility of health equity issues and broaden understanding of the social determinants of health.