Social Determinants of Health & Health Equity in Healthy People 2020

Healthy People 2020 objectives reflect assessments of major determinants of health and wellness, changing public health priorities, and emerging issues related to our nation's health preparedness and prevention. It uses the phrase "determinants of health" to describe the broad range of genetic, behavioral, environmental, and societal factors that influence health, recognizing that conditions in social, physical and economic environments in which people are born, live, work and age affect their health. Health disparities affecting socially and economically disadvantaged populations reflect systematically greater exposure to environmental conditions that are health-adverse. Therefore, this broadened view is essential to the successful implementation of the Healthy People 2020 goal to "achieve health equity, eliminate health disparities and improve health for all." Success in achieving health equity objectives will mean closing gaps while improving overall population health. This will require continuous efforts to eliminate health disparities in health care and in living and working conditions that influence health, and continuous efforts to maintain a desired state of equity after particular health disparities are eliminated. During this session, the integration of health equity - including equity issues related to race/ethnicity, gender, and health insurance - will be discussed. The speaker will share stores about a "Health in All Policies" approach has been used to improve the conditions of people's daily lives and share insights as to how HP2020 can be used to forge multi-sectoral partnerships to achieve conditions in which all people can be healthy.