The Alliance to Reduce Disparities

in Diabetes
II. Advancing Policy and Systems Change
Supported by the Merck Company Foundation

www.alliancefordiabetes.org
The Alliance seeks to advance policy
and systems change informed by
local experience and lessons learned
on the ground.
How Does the Alliance Contribute?
a. It is an opportunity to understand how to implement
evidence-based interventions at the local level.
b. It allows identification of common features across diverse
communities and at the same time affords learning in
how to adapt to unique situations and community
characteristics
c. It can share information and inform policy at multiple
levels to account for day to day realities of providing
quality care to those most in need.
 What policy change
themes are emerging
in the Alliance’s
work?
 National Messages

Alliance sites are generating a range of policy related themes:

• Data sharing across institutions is necessary to identify
the most troublesome diabetes cases [Camden]
• Cultural guides and training are necessary for providers
not of the same ethnicity as clients [Wind River]
• Community health promoters are needed as official
members of the health care team [Baylor]
 National Messages

Alliance sites are generating a range of policy related themes:

• Data sharing must extend beyond internal, medical
systems to independent community practices and
practitioners [Baylor]
• Formal links are needed between health facilities and
community organizations, particularly churches
[Memphis]
• Support is needed in community clinics for diabetes
“champions” to lead disparity reducing interventions
[Chicago]