Decades of research and practical experience in the United States and other countries have shown that a number of economic and social factors – education, income, occupation, wealth, housing, neighborhood environment, race and ethnicity – have a powerful influence on health. Questions remain about which partnerships, policy changes, and on-the-ground interventions will best address these economic and social determinants of health. But enough knowledge exists for us to move to action: to begin a series of strategic conversations within health philanthropy about how, when, and where to get involved.
Audioconferences
On this audioconference, David Williams, one of the leading experts on socioeconomic and racial variations in health, highlighted research evidence that documents that tracking the social determinants of health can lead to improvements in health and reductions in social disparities in disease.
The term Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is commonly used to describe structured, multi-disciplinary methods and processes that judge the potential health effects of a specific policy proposal. Based on a broad model of population health that incorporates economic, political, social, psychological, and environmental influences, HIAs have been widely performed in Europe and Canada through both regulatory and voluntary mechanisms. Interest in these tools is growing rapidly in the United States and health funders have played a pivotal role in nurturing these developments. This audioconference considered how HIAs can be used to infuse health-related concerns into public policy debates and explored opportunities for health funders to advance the development and application of this emerging tool.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America has released 10 recommendations for changes the country can make outside health care to improve the health of all Americans. The commission's recommendations call for changes in schools, at home, in communities, and in the workplace. On this audioconference we discussed the recommendations, heard about successful programs from across the country, and explored next steps for philanthropy.
As research continues around the health outcomes of individuals and groups, there is acknowledgement that effective efforts to reduce disparities must also pay attention to the social determinants of health. Additionally, the antecedents of racial and ethnic disparities in health are multifaceted and rooted in historic and contemporary inequities.
On this audioconference we heard from a leading researcher about evidence that can help 1) assess how far states are from reaching the full health potential of children and adults, 2) raise awareness about the need to address social factors in order to close the current gaps in health, and 3) stimulate discussion and debate within states and nationally about promising directions for closing those gaps.
On this one-hour Webinar grantmakers learned about using maps to promote health equity and saw a demo of Map4Change, an innovative, interactive Web-based mapping tool that allows users to see which neighborhoods tend to have healthy residents, which do not, and why.
Join us to learn about the special challenges HIV/AIDS poses for women, and to see how community-based programs are tackling those challenges while addressing the social determinants of health.
Sponsored by Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities and Grantmakers In Health
In the last 15 years, more than 76,000 Americans have been killed while crossing or walking along a street in their community. Children, the elderly, and ethnic minorities are disproportionately represented in this figure. These deaths typically are labeled “accidents” and attributed to error on the part of motorist or pedestrian. In fact, however, an overwhelming proportion share a similar factor: they occurred along roadways that were dangerous by design. This one-hour call briefed funders on a new report that explores pedestrian deaths through the lens of public health and social equity.
Sponsored by Grantmakers for Children, Youth & Families (GCYF), Grantmakers In Health (GIH), and Grantmakers Income Security Task Force (GIST)
Grantmakers for Children, Youth & Families; Grantmakers In Health; and Grantmakers Income Security Taskforce cosponsored a funders' discussion on the
Social Innovation Fund (SIF). This audioconference provided funders and philanthropic advisors with a timely opportunity to discuss and respond to the newly released
draft Notice of Funding Announcement for public comment on the SIF. The deadline for public input is January 15, 2010. The final SIF funding notice is expected to be released in February 2010. An announcement of the selected grantmaking institutions is expected in the summer of 2010.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF)
County Health Rankings is the first set of reports to rank the health of every county in the nation. A collaboration between RWJF and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, the rankings show how counties measure up within each state in terms of how healthy people are; how long they live; and how important factors such as tobacco use, obesity, access to health care, education, community safety, and air quality affect their health.
