Rethinking Substance Use Disorders

Almost 1 in 10 individuals over age 12 has a problem with alcohol or drugs, making substance use disorders one of the most damaging and expensive health problems facing the United States today. Yet many of the specific issues surrounding substance use remain under the radar because of their controversial nature and the highly marginalized and vulnerable populations they often affect.

Read More →

Racism: Combating the Root Causes of Health Disparities

Reducing health disparities in communities of color has been a public health priority in the United States for the past decade. To date, however, substantial improvements have not been achieved. Even more troubling is the evidence that disparities persist even when overall health trends improve.

Read More →

What’s in a Name? Untangling Health Disparities, the Social Determinants of Health, and Health Equity

Health disparities…social determinants of health… health equity. These phrases are used to talk about differences in health, but what do they mean?

Read More →

Tackling the Tough Work of Community Change

While somewhat new to health foundations, place-based community change work is not new to philanthropy. Grantmakers who are considering such ventures have to judge how comfortable they are with the roles they might be called upon to play in a community change effort.

Read More →

Taking Risks at a Critical Time

Download the essay written for GIH’s 2010 annual meeting, as well as special guest commentaries by foundation leaders Patricia Baker, Thomas David, Karen Wolk Feinstein, Phillip Gonzalez, and Mark Smith on taking risks.

Read More →

Oral Health Disparities: A Shift Toward Policy Work

Oral diseases and disorders occur frequently among all populations, but large disparities exist by region, age, socioeconomic status, and race and ethnicity. In response, many oral health grantmakers have become more focused on policy solutions to improve oral health.

Read More →

State and Local Health Departments: Doing More with Support from Foundations

The nation’s public health system is under increasing pressure as state and local health departments are asked to take on more responsibilities with fewer resources. Despite these challenges, there are many opportunities for foundations to work with and strengthen state and local health departments.

Read More →

Schools as Entry Points for Children’s Mental Health Services

Health grantmakers are in a strong position to support efforts to increase children’s access to mental health services by funding school-based services, building relationships between schools and service providers, disseminating information, and promoting policy change.

Read More →

Changing the Conversation: Taking a Social Determinants of Health Approach to Addressing HIV/AIDS among Women of Color

This piece was written in conjunction with an October 1, 2009 GIH strategy session to understand HIV/AIDS prevention among women of color through a social determinants lens and explore the possibilities this approach presents.

Read More →

Filling a Gap in Care: The Need for Behavioral Health Integration

Primary care is often provided in isolation of behavioral health care, and vice versa. An integrated approach addresses this challenge by systematically coordinating physical and behavioral health services to more fully meet individual needs.

Read More →