Healthier Frederick Launches Health Equity Framework in Partnership with SEA Healthcare
The Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County (Healthier Frederick) is proud to announce the formal adoption and public release of its Health Equity Framework, an actionable and evidence-based roadmap to center equity in all aspects of their work. The Health Equity Framework was developed in collaboration with Swain Eng & Associates (SEA Healthcare) and Healthier Frederick’s Health Equity Committee, which was compiled of several dedicated board members and staff.
“This partnership has been especially meaningful because Healthier Frederick leads with a genuine commitment to health equity and communicates with openness and honesty. They never operate in a vacuum as public input was sought multiple times, ensuring the framework reflects the community’s priorities and lived experience.”
The Framework arrives at a decisive moment. Findings from the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), conducted jointly by Healthier Frederick, Frederick Health, and the Frederick County Health Department, highlight ongoing health disparities linked to race, income, geography, and social determinants of health.
The Framework is Healthier Frederick’s response to the barriers, challenges, and disparities still faced by many Frederick County residents. Grounded in shared priorities and shaped by local voices, it lays out principles and actions to remove barriers and expand opportunities. Together, this roadmap can be used to build stronger, healthier communities across the county.
The Health Equity Framework provides a comprehensive and actionable guide to advance equity across the county’s public health systems. Aligned with national models such as Mobilizing for Action Through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP 2.0) and the Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII), the Framework outlines a clear pathway to reduce disparities and support long-term community well-being.
Key components of the Framework include:
A locally adopted definition of health equity that builds on national standards
Five guiding principles to shape Healthier Frederick actions and partner engagement
Strategies to embed equity in governance, engagement, staffing, and communication practices
A measurement system using disaggregated indicators and phased key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress
“Developing and launching this framework is not an end to itself, but the beginning of building a healthier Frederick County for all residents. Healthier Frederick pledges to continue to listen to community voices and to incorporate them into our work to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes for all. By aligning ourselves around this framework and working together we have the opportunity, and responsibility, to do something great and that is worth fighting for.”
Healthier Frederick envisions a Frederick County where all individuals have a voice in their health and access to the opportunities necessary to thrive and recognizes that everyone has a role to play. Whether you are a local nonprofit, business, resident, healthcare provider, elected official or government agency, the Framework offers a common foundation for collective action.