Cross Cutting Work: Social Determinants of Health

State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) 2021-2025

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. They contribute health disparities and inequities. For example, people who don't have access to grocery stores with healthy foods are less likely to have good nutrition. That raises their risk of health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, and even lowers life expectancy relative to people who do have access to healthy foods (- Healthy People 2030).

The ADH aims to collaborate with its partners in education, transportation, housing, and community groups to address social/environmental conditions of Arkansans to improve their quality of life.

Priority Area - Social Determinants of Health

SDH

The future Workgroup Members may represent the following agencies and entities, i.e., ADH ITS, ADH LHUs, ADH PH laboratory, private laboratories, public and private providers, contractors, and community partners.

SDH

Workgroup Action Plan: The work group members will meet and develop workplan for each strategy, which would include objectives, activities, and performance measures specific to the strategy.

Goals, Strategies, and Objectives

SDH

All Arkansans reach their full potential in communities that identify and promote supportive relationships and provide healthy, safe, and nurturing environments.

SHIP Partners

Arkansas Department of Education
Arkansas Department of Finance
Arkansas Department of Health
Arkansas Department of Human Services
Arkansas Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care
Arkansas Minority Health Commission
Board of Health Members
County Health Officers
Current identified city and county health community champions
Local faith-based leaders

Resources

Why Is This Important?

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.

SDOH can be grouped into 5 domains:

Social determinants of health (SDOH) have a major impact on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life. Examples of SDOH include:

Safe housing, transportation, and neighborhoods
Racism, discrimination, and violence
Education, job opportunities, and income
Access to nutritious foods and physical activity opportunities
Polluted air and water
Language and literacy skills

SDOH also contribute to wide health disparities and inequities. For example, people who don't have access to grocery stores with healthy foods are less likely to have good nutrition. That raises their risk of health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity — and even lowers life expectancy relative to people who do have access to healthy foods.

Just promoting healthy choices won't eliminate these and other health disparities. Instead, public health organizations and their partners in sectors like education, transportation, and housing need to take action to improve the conditions in people's environments.

Souce: https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/social-determinants-health and https://health.gov/healthypeople/about/workgroups/social-determinants-health-workgroup

SDH

Strategy 1: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, phase two of SHIP was delayed. In 2022, a new Planning and Implementation Team, with incumbent and new members, will convene to build on the ideas presented by the old team. The planning will finalize the strategies, objectives, and performance measures.