Oral

The public health community has long known that health is about more than just doctors and health insurance. In fact, it is now understood that a person's health is only about 10% dependent on access to quality health care. The vast majority of peoples' health is determined by socioeconomic factors and health behaviors. Health is a reflection on a person's community and social status which are tied up in race, poverty, education, environment, housing, food, transportation and much more. These social determinants of health have been identified in Healthy People 2020 as a new area of focus for the nation with the following collective goal: "Create social and physical environments that promote good health for all". By addressing the social determinants of health, public health works to keep families and communities healthy by promoting protective factors (such as exercise, good diet, reproductive life plans, and other positive behaviors and environmental changes) and to reduce health disparities by reducing risk factors (such as low education, racism, smoking, and more). This session is an opportunity for us to explore some of the research and initiatives that are taking this work of improving social determinants of health to the next level.

Session Objectives: Attendees will be able to: 1) list examples of social determinants of health, 2) discuss the important of targeting the social determinants of health in order to reduce health disparities and improve long-term health outcomes, and 3) compare the efforts discussed in this session to their efforts to reduce the negative effects of poor social determinants of health in their region.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)