About Us
Overview
The Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC) is a forum for the leaders of America’s largest metropolitan health departments to exchange strategies and jointly address issues to promote and protect the health and safety of the 61 million people they serve. Together, these public health officials directly affect the health and well-being of nearly one in five Americans.
ADVANCING EQUITY AND HEALTH FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, THROUGH SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES, LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY
OUR MISSION
Our Coalition
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Member Health Departments
35
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Protecting
61 Million Americans
Membership Criteria
The Coalition represents the health leaders of the largest cities in the nation’s most urban areas. Member cities must have a city population of at least 500,000 to be eligible, and must be a locally controlled health department, not a state agency. Note: All members that were in good standing each time eligibility has been amended have been grandfathered in, even if they did not meet the current criteria. This currently includes Cleveland, Long Beach, Minneapolis, and Oakland.
Membership is extended to the health department that has primary jurisdiction over the city, whether it be a city or county agency.
Looking Forward: BCHC’s Urban Health Agenda
In June 2022, BCHC unveiled its Urban Health Agenda, a vision for the future of urban public health that prioritizes equity.
Video
Looking Back: 20 Years of BCHC
Discover why two big city health commissioners started BCHC 20 years ago and how the organization still makes a difference to big city health departments today.
Frontline Blog
Looking Back: 20 Years of Big City Public Health
As we mark our 20th anniversary in 2022, we look back on two decades of public health innovation and leadership by big cities.