Social Determinants of Health

Community Health Worker CourseRogue Community College

Instructor: Sarah Walker

What are Social Determinants of Health? To understand a person’s overall health,

it is necessary to understand the major components of health and what is included when examining health resources. The goal of this objective is to create social and physical environments that promote good health for all.

Health starts in our homes, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities.

Our health is also determined in part by access to social and economic

opportunities; the resources and supports available in our homes, neighborhoods,

and communities; the quality of our schooling; the safety of our workplaces;

the cleanliness of our water, food, and air; and the nature of our social interactions

and relationships. The conditions in which we live explain in part why some

Americans are healthier than others and why Americans more generally are not as

healthy as they could be.

To ensure that all Americans have that opportunity, advances are needed not only in health care but also in fields such as education, childcare, housing, business, law, media, community planning, transportation, and agriculture. Making these advances would involve working together to:

Explore how programs, practices, and policies in these areas affect the health of individuals, families, and communities.

Establish common goals, complementary roles, and ongoing constructive relationships between the health sector and these areas.

Maximize opportunities for collaboration among Federal-, state-, and local-level partners related to social determinants of health.

Examples of Social Determinants

Availability of resources to meet daily needs (for example, safe housing and local food markets)

Access to educational, economic, and job opportunities Access to health care services Quality of education and job training  Availability of community-based resources in support of community living and opportunities

for recreational and leisure-time activities  Transportation options  Public safety Social support Social norms and attitudes (for instance, discrimination, racism, and distrust of government) Exposure to crime, violence, and social disorder, like the presence of trash and lack of

cooperation in a community Socioeconomic conditions, such as concentrated poverty and the stressful conditions that

accompany it Residential segregation Language/Literacy Access to mass media and emerging technologies, like cell phones, the Internet, and social

media Culture

Examples of Physical Determinants

Natural environment, such as green space (e.g., trees and grass) or weather (e.g., climate change)

Built environment, such as buildings, sidewalks, bike lanes, and roads

Worksites, schools, and recreational settings Housing and community design Exposure to toxic substances and other physical

hazards Physical barriers, especially for people with disabilities Aesthetic elements (e.g., good lighting, trees, and

benches)

DHHS: Healthy People 2020, Social Determinants of Health

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lul6KNIw_8

Colorado SDHhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7iSYi3ziTI(10 minute video)

We use big words…http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/07/24/333719559/for-better-treatment-doctors-and-patients-share-the-decisions

Soul Food Junkies: A look at culture determinants

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9qFm5ea0uQ

Small Group Discussion What are some health disparities in your

community?

What social and physical determinants contribute to these disparities?

This project was funded $3,000,000 (100% of its total cost) from a grant awarded under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grants, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. Rogue Community College is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services, alternate form and language services are available to individuals with disabilities and limited English proficiency free of cost upon request.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.