Focus Area: Social Determinants of Health

Overview

Social determinants (or drivers) of health (aka health-related social needs) are the conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, pray and play. These factors can affect a wide range of health and quality-of-life outcomes, and addressing SDOH needs with supports such as food boxes, housing vouchers, transportation assistance and other non-clinical interventions can likewise have a significant impact on health outcomes, including:

• Reducing the risk of acute/emergency health issues, accidents and injuries (e.g. by addressing environmental health risks via mold mitigation or repairing a damaged stairway)

• Managing existing and/or chronic health conditions to prevent worsening and to address symptoms (e.g. supporting diabetes treatment with healthy foods)

• Preventing disease, or prevent pre-disease symptoms from developing into full blown conditions (e.g. providing school lunches to support children at risk of food insecurity, or providing transportation to help patients get to medical appointments)

• Reducing toxic stress that can lead to negative health outcomes (i.e. providing housing support services to a family struggling to afford rent, or providing social supports for an isolated senior)

The WNC HPI looks for ways to enable all WNC residents, especially those in rural or underserved areas, to be better able to access reliable transportation, nutritious food, economic opportunities, safe and affordable housing, and other SDOH that can impact their health. SDOH-engaged partners, such as Impact Health (which operates the WNC Healthy Opportunities Pilot), play a crucial role in helping keep the WNC HPI informed and engaged in SDOH needs and intervention efforts in the region, and in sharing back what we learn with policy makers, researchers, community-based organizations, health care providers, and community members working to address these issues.