Developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policies for Public Health Organizations: A Template and Guidance 

6 Min Read

Jan 28, 2025

By

Tatiana Y. Lin, M.A., Shelby C. Rowell, M.P.A., Emma Uridge, M.P.H.,

Erika Gaitan, M.S.W.,

Ben Wood, M.P.H.

A digital graphic for an event titled "Developing Ethical and Equitable AI Policies for Public Health Organizations." The background features an abstract network of interconnected pink, purple, and blue lines forming the outline of a human head. Below the title, logos of four organizations are displayed: Kansas Health Institute, PHIG Partners, Health Resources in Action, and Wichita State University’s Community Engagement Institute. The event date and time are listed at the bottom: "1-2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.

We want to make sure our products are easy to use, so the AI Policy Template and Guidance and the KHI Virtual Assistant Chat Bot are in a five-month trial period. We’d love your feedback on how well they work, ideas for improvement and any topics we might have missed. Please use this link to fill out the survey and help us make these tools even better.

The rapid growth of AI tools has prompted public health organizations to explore their potential. While some may proceed too quickly by adopting AI without fully developed rationale, others may hesitate due to uncertainty or challenges in the evolving field. Addressing these challenges requires a thoughtful, multipronged approach — including well-designed policies — to ensure responsible and effective AI use while mitigating potential drawbacks. 

 To support these efforts, Developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policies for Public Health Organizations: A Template and Guidance offers a comprehensive and adaptable framework to help organizations craft or refine their AI policies. It was developed by a collaboration between the Kansas Health Institute, Health Resources in Action and the Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute.  

 Key Features of the Template and Guidance 

  • Adaptable Provisions with Contextual Guidance: The document not only provides policy provisions but also offers context for each section, fostering proactive and thoughtful development. It includes a series of self-reflection questions designed to help organizations and individuals articulate a clear rationale for when AI might be an appropriate solution, while ensuring that equity and ethics remain central to decision-making on AI use.  
  • Research-Informed Development: The guidance is grounded in an environmental scan, including a review of AI policies from various cities and states, a literature review and expert input from 14 reviewers representing public health institutions, national public health associations, academia, city government, a global consulting group and an AI developer, among others.  
  • Comprehensive Structure: The document organizes its content into commonly included policy sections, starting with the purpose, scope and core principles. Following these foundational elements, the guidance addresses six topics: 
    • Data Privacy  
    • Bias Mitigation  
    • Human Oversight  
    • Transparency  
    • Community Engagement  
    • Training and Capacity Building  

We encourage your organization to use this Template and Guidance to inform your conversations about AI, reflect on your current organizational practices and create a future roadmap. Additionally, we want to ensure that the resource meets your specific needs. 

We Value Your Feedback!

To ensure we hear from as many voices as possible, we are launching an open comment period from Jan. 28 – May 1, 2025. This comment period provides an opportunity for you to share your thoughts and help us refine this Template and Guidance further. Select the link below to provide feedback. 

 

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About the Authors and Contributors  

The authors of the Policy Template and Guidance document: Tatiana Lin, M.A., Director of Business Strategy and Innovation, Kansas Health Institute; Shelby C. Rowell, M.P.A. , Analyst, Kansas Health Institute; Emma Uridge, M.P.H., Analyst, Kansas Health Institute; Erika Gaitan, M.S.W., Associate Director, Community Impact, Health Resources in Action; Ben Wood, M.P.H. ,Senior Director, Policy and Practice, Health Resources in Action. Note: Shelby C. Rowell and Emma Uridge served as co-secondary authors on the publication, contributing equally to the work.

The following people served as contributors to the AI Policy Template and Guidance document: Kate Holmes, M.P.H., Associate Director, Health and Racial Equity, Health Resources in Action; Emily Brinkman, M.P.H., R.D., L.D., Public Health Program Specialist, Wichita State University, Community Engagement Institute; Taylor Carter, M.P.H., Public Health Program Specialist, Wichita State University, Community Engagement Institute; Linda J. Sheppard, J.D., Team Leader,  Kansas Health Institute;  AAron Davis, M.P.A., M.B.A., Director, Center for Public Health Initiatives, Wichita State University, Community Engagement Institute; Stewart Cole, Graphic Designer, Kansas Health Institute.

Supplemental Materials

As part of this project, three key documents were developed that were used to inform the development of this document, Developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policies for Public Health Organizations: A Template and Guidance.

Funding  

This work is supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, through OE22-2203: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS or the U.S. Government.  

Access this publication in the Documents & Downloads section. 

 

About Kansas Health Institute

The Kansas Health Institute supports effective policymaking through nonpartisan research, education and engagement. KHI believes evidence-based information, objective analysis and civil dialogue enable policy leaders to be champions for a healthier Kansas. Established in 1995 with a multiyear grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, KHI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization based in Topeka.

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