African American boy getting a vaccine while being with his father at pediatrician's office.

Health Equity Program

The Health Equity Program at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research is known for its work highlighting gaps in health status/access to health care along racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines, particularly for older adults, immigrants, sexual and gender minorities, and other historically underserved populations.

Health equity means that everyone — regardless of their background or circumstances — has a fair opportunity to reach their full health potential.

The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR) is committed to providing research and data on the health and health care needs of marginalized communities.

A person’s race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, age, citizenship status, English proficiency, disability, and socioeconomic status, as well as social determinants of health — the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age — impact access to and quality of care, and influence health outcomes. UCLA CHPR’s Health Equity Program helps policymakers, advocates, researchers, community leaders, media, and other key stakeholders understand where health gaps exist.

Led by Kathryn G. Kietzman, PhD, senior research scientist and Health Equity Program director, the Health Equity Program is recognized for its in-depth analysis, research, and technical assistance on the health issues and concerns of older adults, immigrants, sexual and gender minority groups, and racial and ethnic minority populations, such as American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Some of the Health Equity Program’s recent projects include: 

Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Study

The LTSS Study examines the service and support needs of Californians who experience difficulties with certain activities of daily life, such as dressing, bathing, and doing errands.
Health Equity Challenge

The UCLA Health Equity Challenge provides UCLA graduate students with the opportunity to develop innovative community-based solutions to improve health equity in California. Conducted in collaboration with MolinaCares and the California Health Care Foundation, this program provides up to $50,000 in funding to community organizations to implement the students' project.
Mental Health Program

UCLA CHPR researchers extensively study the mental health of Californians including tracking the prevalence of mental health distress, particularly disparities in rates of psychological distress; the underlying social, economic, and environmental factors linked to poor mental health; access to mental health care; and more.
Elder Economic Security Standard Index (Elder Index)

The Elder Index is a tool that measures the actual cost of basic necessities for older adults in each of California's 58 counties. The Elder Index is viewed by many as a more accurate measure of economic security than federal poverty level (FPL) guidelines, a standardized national estimate that does not take into account the cost of living in high-cost states.
LGBTQ+ Health

UCLA CHPR conducts research on gaps in health care access and use among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender non-conforming Californians.
American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Program

One of the first health policy research programs in the nation to address health disparity issues confronting American Indians and Alaska Natives, UCLA CHPR has worked to improve the health of AIAN populations through native-grounded research and evaluation, as well as through analysis of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).
Research on Immigrant Health and State Policy (RIGHTS) Study

The RIGHTS Study aims to understand the experiences Latinx and Asian immigrants in California have encountered regarding health care, social services, employment, education, and law enforcement and the resulting impact on their health.

Health Equity at a Glance

2 in 3

Latino and Asian immigrants in California perceive that immigrants who use government benefits such as income assistance, health care, food programs, and housing aid, would be prevented from gaining legal U.S. immigration status
Source: 2018, 2019 and 2020 California Health Interview Surveys/RIGHTS Study

2 in 5

older adults and adults with disabilities in California reported that they had cut down on the amount they spent on food and/or saving for retirement
Source: 2019–2020 California Health Interview Survey/LTSS Study

47.3%

of Latino and Asian immigrants who had ever been undocumented said they settled for a job that paid less than what they deserved and 28.1% did not get paid for hours worked
Source: 2018, 2019 and 2020 California Health Interview Surveys/RIGHTS Study

Spotlight

How Does Age Matter? Investigating Financial Strain, Health, and Well-Being among Adults Who Need Long-Term Services and Supports
Publications
How Does Age Matter? Investigating Financial Strain, Health, and Well-Being among Adults Who Need Long-Term Services and Supports
California’s Aging Population – Anticipating Dramatic Growth in the Number of Older Californians
Publications
California’s Aging Population – Anticipating Dramatic Growth in the Number of Older Californians
"Feeling Like You Matter:" LGBTQ + Young Adult Perspectives on Affirmative Mental Healthcare
Publications
"Feeling Like You Matter:" LGBTQ + Young Adult Perspectives on Affirmative Mental Healthcare
Fourth Annual UCLA Health Equity Challenge which offers up to $50,000 for each community organization to implement your idea.
Blog
UCLA students propose innovative ideas to address health disparities in the greater Los Angeles area
Fourth Annual UCLA Health Equity Challenge which offers up to $50,000 for each community organization to implement your idea. Open to all UCLA graduate students.
Blog
UCLA Health Equity Challenge provides funding to support student-driven solutions to health inequities
Covers of LTSS publications
Publications
The Health of Diverse Californians With Needs for Long-Term Services and Supports
Covers of LTSS publications
Publications
Financial Worries of Diverse Californians With Needs for Long-Term Services and Supports
Covers of LTSS publications
Publications
How a Sense of Neighborhood Cohesion Affects the Health of Diverse Californians With Needs for Long-Term Services and Supports
Collage of four photos of winners of the 2024 Health Equity Challenge. In each image the winners are posing with contest supporters and mentors.
Blog
Four UCLA students’ projects awarded $50,000 each to advance health equity in Los Angeles
Loneliness and Psychological Distress Among Older Californians: The Moderating Roles of Citizenship Status and English Proficiency (The Journals of Gerontology Series B)
Publications
Loneliness and Psychological Distress Among Older Californians: The Moderating Roles of Citizenship Status and English Proficiency (The Journals of Gerontology Series B)
headshots of 15 Health Equity Challenge student finalists
Blog
Challenge accepted: Graduate students answer the call to help boost health equity
hands holding a lightbulb highlighting 50K prize for the Health Equity Challenge
Blog
Health Equity Challenge invites UCLA graduate students to create change in their communities