Paving the way for OT in public health: CHIRP promotes health equity

In response to the disheartening health inequities and disparities that continue to plague our Black and Brown communities, Delvin Champagne, MSHE, COTA/L, CHES, ATP, had a vision. Using the blueprint of the Consortium of African American Public Health Programs (CAAPHP), which is composed of HBCU-housed Public Health programs, he developed the Consortium of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Interdisciplinary Rehab Programs (CHIRP). The mission of CHIRP is to “address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion that impact health and health outcomes among racial, cultural, and ethnic groups.” (CHIRP, 2022). The consortium targets educators, students, and practitioners in occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology with the goal of securing funding and advancing research in areas that will help to reduce the health disparities gap. Although the goal is for interdisciplinary work, the founding arm consists of occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) with backgrounds in public health either through formal training and/or practice areas.