Case Study:
Capacity building for Health Equity in:
Public Health – Seattle & King County
Community Partner:
Public Health – Seattle & King County (Best Starts-funded organization)
Duration: 3 Years
Challenge
Best Starts-funded organizations within Public Health – Seattle & King County faced capacity gaps, systemic inequities, and misalignment between staff and community needs. Limited resources and a lack of equitable governance made it difficult to effectively serve BIPOC, immigrant, and refugee communities, further widening health disparities. A health equity-driven approach was needed to build sustainable support systems and bridge these gaps.
Solution
Attemla Consulting’s work is rooted in a health equity framework that acknowledges and addresses the systemic barriers faced by BIPOC and underserved communities. We focus on creating inclusive, supportive environments by promoting equitable governance, culturally responsive leadership practices, and tailored support systems. Our approach integrates strategies that confront biases and inequities to ensure that organizations are equipped to serve their communities effectively and sustainably.
Our core services include:
Equity-Centered Board Development: Strengthening governance structures to reflect diverse perspectives and foster shared leadership.
Health Equity & Bias Awareness Training: Facilitating deeper understanding of systemic inequities and their impact on staff and community well-being.
Executive Coaching & Strategic Alignment: Empowering leaders to integrate health equity principles into organizational strategies and day-to-day practices.
Organizational Needs Assessment: Collaborating with teams to identify capacity gaps and co-create solutions that build stronger, more connected organizations.
-
Our health equity-centered initiatives helped organizations build capacity, reduce burnout, and strengthen mutual support networks. Through our somatic-based practices—such as breathwork, mindfulness, and healing-centered care—employees reported feeling more connected and supported. These practices created meaningful spaces for open dialogue and healing, fostering deeper trust and collaboration across teams.
-
In times of uncertainty, burnout has become a widespread issue that disproportionately affects BIPOC and historically marginalized communities. Our work supports organizations in building culturally-attuned and healing-centered environments that prioritize health equity. By addressing the root causes of burnout and inequity, we help organizations create spaces where lived experiences feel valued, believed, and respected .
-
Our approach provided organizations with intentional pauses to reimagine their quality of life and well-being as a core part of their operations. By integrating somatic-based practices and healthy-equity frameworks, we enabled leadership and staff to connect more deeply, reflect on the impact of systemic inequities, and build strategies that support long-term cultural sustainability and health equity. This focus on pausing to prioritize well-being led to increased staff engagement, reduced burnout, and a more effective, community-centered organization.