CINCINNATI — As of Thursday, racism has been declared a public health crisis in Hamilton County.
County leaders first introduced the resolution to declare racism a health crisis last month after weeks of protests in Cincinnati against police brutality and racial injustice.
The resolution not only declares a health crisis, but it also lists specific steps the county can take to combat the crisis. Hamilton County Commissioner Victoria Parks released a draft of the resolution in the county last Tuesday.
That includes calling for Hamilton County to conduct a disparity study to identify local policies contributing to disparity in healthcare, infant mortality, oral health and others, as well as supporting collaborative health efforts that reduce racial inequities. Parks said these disparities are part of the reason the county needs to declare racism a public health crisis.
“Everybody that is here, their heart is in it. They understand it. They have accepted the inequities that have born upon African Americans,” she said.
In addition to the study, the resolution moves for the expansion of the Office of Economic Inclusion so minority communities can be better connected to resources.
"More than a declaration, the resolution outlines strategies the county will take to address systemic racism and promote justice," Commission President Denise Driehaus said Thursday.
Read the full resolution in the viewer below:
Resolution July 16, 2020 by WCPO Web Team on Scribd
