As our country faces the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on communities of color and continued anti-Black violence, we can no longer ignore the profound and enduring effects of racism in federal, state and local policies on the health and wellbeing of marginalized and racialized groups.
Boundless evidence exists examining the multiple ways in which racism can adversely affect health; what we need to do is uncover what local, state and federal policies could dismantle racism. Understanding how policies improve racial equity is critical to building a culture of health. Through a new call for proposals, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, under its Policies for Action program, will fund research that addresses systemic racism in public policy.
Approximately $2 million in funding is available for this opportunity, and all proposed research studies must include a plan to translate findings into actionable evidence about how, and how well, policies work to improve racial equity and racial justice.
