The ARCC Towards Justice project is a partnership between the University of Michigan School of Public Health, the Washtenaw County Health Department (WCHD), and community members to integrate anti-racist principles into public health practice. Responding to the impact of racism and COVID-19 on communities of color, the project draws on the Bounded Justice framework to promote lasting institutional change.

Through staff surveys, focus groups, and community input, the team identified both barriers and opportunities for anti-racist transformation at WCHD. A key outcome is the Racial Justice Impact Assessment (RJIA) tool, developed collaboratively using the "Four P’s"—Preconceptions, People, Power-Sharing, and Policies—to assess how department policies and programs promote racial equity.

The RJIA tool has been piloted and refined at WCHD, and an accompanying toolkit was created to support implementation in other communities. The ARCC Towards Justice project offers a practical model for local health departments committed to advancing racial equity and addressing health inequities.