A new study published in Energy Policy
introduces a data-driven framework for designing building retrofit incentives that achieve both climate and equity goals. Researchers used Oshkosh, Wisconsin, as a case study to model different policy approaches. They tested scenarios ranging from equal distribution to reparative and health-focused equity, all within a physics-based, urban-building energy model. They found that targeted incentives combined with carbon taxes can significantly reduce emissions while addressing disparities in energy burden and housing quality. This framework is adaptable to other cities, and authors encourage city planners and policymakers to tailor the framework to local community priorities.
A recent P4A study delves into the hidden dynamics of payday-loan use across Mississippi—and the findings are striking. Drawing on survey data from 566 residents (419 in the Delta region, 166 statewide), the research reveals that race is the most powerful predictor of payday-loan use, even when controlling for income, education, employment, and marital status. Black women face the highest predicted probability of borrowing at 63 percent, underscoring how financial vulnerability and structural racism intersect. The authors suggests that policies aiming to reduce payday-loan harm must explicitly incorporate racial equity and that interventions should go beyond income support to consider gender, race,
geography, and alternate credit pathways.
Emily Dore, postdoctoral researcher and author of a
recent paper published in JAMA Health Forum, was featured in a Healthy Futures
blog interview discussing how social policies influence health outcomes. Her team’s research explores how changes to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program during the pandemic raised rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration, especially for Black mothers. These findings offer a compelling argument for making expanded cash assistance, reduced work requirements, and other pandemic-era adaptations permanent and standardized across the country to improve health outcomes nationwide.
Community corner
Ways of knowing: Reshaping the health science knowledge system
E4A’s newest video from their Ways of Knowing symposia series highlights the importance of reshaping the “health science knowledge system” through building the evidence base with community and research. The video explores different ways knowledge is created, valued, and applied to advance health equity.
2025 Partners for Advancing Health Equity summit December 3–5, 2025 | Montgomery, Alabama
Registration is open for the 2025 Partners for Advancing Health Equity Summit, cohosted by Partners for Advancing Health Equity and Alabama State University. The summit, themed “Collaborative Strategies for a Better Future,” will feature engaging workshops, networking sessions, and on-site experiences. Participants will develop tools to navigate the current political climate, strengthen communication strategies, and explore different approaches for advancing health equity.
