5x5 Public Health Internship
Overview
With funding from the Administration on Community Living (ACL) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), the Council has designed and implemented a project-based learning internship for five rising public health professionals. The comprehensive program curriculum, designed and implemented by Council staff, includes an examination of the historical significance, key provisions, and implementation of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Acts of 2000 (the DD Act), alongside its influence on public policy, integration of Charting the LifeCourse, and the role of the developmental disabilities self-advocate community and disability justice principles, and more. By critically analyzing the DD Act and its implications, participating public health professionals will gain insights into the evolution of developmental disability services and the ongoing efforts to promote autonomy, inclusion, and the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities.
A Population Experiencing Health Disparities
In September 2023, the National Institute of Health designated people with disabilities as a population with health disparities: "People with disabilities often experience a wide and varying range of health conditions leading to poorer health and shorter lifespan." This designation recognizes that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, like people without disabilities, do not live siloed lives; understanding the impact of a person’s whole-life experiences gives better insight into the health outcomes and quality of life experienced by people with ID/DD. The designation from the NIMHD serves as a call to action for public health professionals, policymakers, and the community at large to learn more about supporting people with ID/DD and their families at the intersection of social drivers of health and home and community-based services, through the lens of person-centered approaches, self-determination, and inclusion and belonging.
Five Public Health Professionals
Through the integration of the socio-ecological model from public health, Charting the LifeCourse framework, tools, and principles, and the five Social Drivers of Health, the Council is proposing an approach to public health systems change that supports self-determination as a key component to improving policies, procedures, and outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This approach situates an individual's self-determination within the context of their family, and the family within the broader community and its social networks, ultimately improving overall population health outcomes. By providing public health professionals with this roadmap, the opportunity to enhance the responsiveness of policies, communities, and governance systems, while empowering people with ID/DD to influence those systems directly, establishes an accessible methodology for all engaged in these efforts.
Six Life Domains (Charting the LifeCourse)
- Daily Life & Employment
- Social & Spirituality
- Safety & Security
- Community Living
- Healthy Living
- Advocacy & Engagement
Five Social Drivers of Health
- Healthcare Access & Quality
- Education Access & Quality
- Social & Community Context
- Economic Stability
- Neighborhood & Built Environment
Aligning the Five Social Drivers of Health from Healthy People with the six Life Domains from Charting the LifeCourse provides an additional perspective for interns to evaluate, explore, and understand the intersection of social drivers of health, home and community-based services, and life outcomes for a person with ID/DD. Life Domains are the aspects of a person's daily life that are specific, connected, and add to the whole-person's quality of life.
CROSS AGENCY COLLABORATION: CREATING A SHARED VISION FOR A HEALTHIER INDIANA FOR ALL
When a Hoosier with a developmental disability joined a statewide public health workgroup for the first time this summer, he didn’t know what to expect. He received documents filled with complex language, engaged in conversations with seasoned health professionals, and was asked to weigh in on decisions that would shape tobacco prevention and cancer screening efforts across Indiana.
Something important happened: people listened. Questions were clarified, materials were rewritten in everyday language, and his feedback helped shift how participating health professionals talked about health programs. What began as one person stepping into a new kind of leadership role quickly grew into a broader partnership between the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities (GCPD) and the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH).
Through the 5x5 Public Health Initiative, community members with lived experience are now helping shape statewide health priorities from project planning and evaluation to program strategies and implementation plans. Their insights are already influencing how agencies communicate, problem-solve, and design services for Hoosiers.
