204 - Baseline Assessment for an Innovative Policy Directive: Justice40 Implementation at CDC/ATSDR

Abstract Information: The Justice40 (J40) initiative, an all-governmental approach established through an executive order in 2021, seeks to address environmental justice in communities burdened by cumulative environmental impacts. Mandating that 40% of certain Federal investments benefit communities that are at increased risk for environmental injustices, J40 programs were identified by federal agencies following Interim Implementation Guidance from the White House Office of Management and Budget. Specifically, five J40 programs have been identified within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/National Center for Environmental Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Additionally, Justice40 bases its guiding framework on Vital Conditions, which are the 7 categories that identify the factors that people depend on to reach their full potential.
To ensure adherence with the 40% allocation for J40-covered programs, CDC/ATSDR evaluators have undertaken the task of retrospectively designing a process evaluation. However, understanding how federal investments reach communities faces multiple challenges due to the complex and unique nature of assessing environmental justice in individual communities. Evaluating such a policy is relatively new, presenting difficulties associated with community-specific considerations and intertwining with complex economic and political topics like gentrification, displacement, and redlining.
Another challenge arises from the large and ongoing nature of the J40-covered programs, which have their own goals and objectives. Historically, these programs have not fully tracked how their investments reach communities disproportionately affected by environmental injustices, primarily due to this policy being relatively new. To complete a baseline assessment CDC/ATSDR evaluators will examine the J40 program characteristics, link program outcomes to vital conditions, and review performance measures in order to identify gaps in data and better understand where federal investments are directed. This process is intended to assist the programs’ ability to monitor the impacts of environmental justice efforts via enhanced data collection.
By designing evaluations that consider Justice40 elements, we can proactively consider the impacts of federal programs on environmental justice and work towards implementing sustainable changes. This initiative serves as a valuable learning experience for the successful implementation of innovative policy changes affecting existing programs.
This session aims to explore the intricacies of policy implementation through evaluation that seeks to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of programs like Justice40.