What Impacts Health?

“Eat healthier. Exercise more. Stop drinking. Quit smoking.” 

We have all heard these phrases before. And yes, our individual health behaviors do have a significant impact on our health. However, the primary driving forces that impact individual and community health are the social determinants of health

As defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,² the social determinants of health 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.” The social determinants of health are often grouped into five domains: economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context. 

To learn more about the social determinants of health and these domains, watch this video created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Finding a Balance

Public health must find a balance between emphasizing individual health behaviors and addressing the social determinants of health. In addition to strengthening our communities' knowledge and confidence, we must dedicate time and resources to minimizing - and more so, dismantling - pre-existing barriers and inequities. For example, if we are trying to promote healthy eating and active living, we must take into account factors such as income, transportation and education. Do all members of our community have access to nutritious foods? Are neighborhoods safe and walkable? What percent of our community completed high school? The answers to these questions will greatly impact our choice of programming.

The bottom line is behavior change does not result from knowledge alone.³ As public health professionals, we can help facilitate change by:

1. Engaging with our communities to better understand lived experiences
2. Researching best practices and working together on strategies for improvement
3. Breaking down existing barriers

Recognizing and addressing the impact of the social determinants of health will allow us to create more comprehensive, positive change in our communities. Together, we can make healthy living a possibility for all Iowans.

Trainings and Events

Did you hear? NACCHO is launching three revised assessments as part of the new Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) framework. Register for the following webinars to learn more!

Community Partners Assessment (CPA)

• December 5th, 2022 from 11:30am-1pm CST
• “The CPA is an assessment process that allows all community partners involved in MAPP to critically look at their own individual systems, processes and capacities, and their collective capacity as a network to address health inequities. This tool will help identify the range of actions that are currently being taken and could be taken moving forward to address health inequity at the individual to systemic and structural levels.

Community Status Assessment (CSA)

• December 8th, 2022 from 10:30am-12pm CST
• “The CSA quantitatively describes the status of the community, including health outcomes, health behaviors, social determinants of health, and systems of power, privilege, and oppression, and across all these variables, existing inequities. For populations where there are no or insufficient data, primary data collection can be conducted. It highlights data gaps and issues or inequities that need to be further explored through other assessments.”

Community Context Assessment (CCA)

• December 14th, 2022 from 11:30am-1pm CST
• “The CCA is a qualitative data assessment tool aimed at harnessing the unique insights, expertise, and perspectives of individuals and communities directly impacted by social systems in order to improve the functioning and impact of those systems. The assessment is designed to move beyond interventions that rely on perceived community needs to facilitate deep understanding of a community’s strengths, assets, and culture. The CCA centers the perceptions, insights, values, culture, and priorities of those experiencing inequities firsthand. It is grounded in the recognition that all communities have a vibrancy that must be nurtured and leveraged in community improvement.” 

Healthy People, Healthy Hearts: Healthy People 2030 and Cardiovascular Health

• Hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP)
• December 6th, 2022 from 1:30-2:30pm CST
• Register through Cisco Webex

Reproductive Health Equity in Iowa

• Hosted by the University of Iowa College of Public Health
• December 14th, 2022 from 1-2pm CST

News and Resources

Monday, November 21st was Public Health Thank You Day!

• There is no doubt the public health workforce has been challenged the last two and a half years. Yet, our partners have never faltered in their efforts to improve health throughout Iowa. Your dedication, bravery, and humility have not gone unnoticed. Keep up the great work and know that you are appreciated. THANK YOU!
• For more praise, read ASTHO’s Thank You Letter.

Iowa HHS’ Division of Public Health has released a CHA/CHIP best practices flyer!

• Are you currently working on your community health assessment (CHA) or community health improvement plan (CHIP)? If so, this resource is for you!
• If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CHA/CHIP process, please contact us at [email protected].

The Region V Public Health Training Center and the Center for Public Health Systems have collaborated to create the Public Health Model Job Descriptions Project.

• This resource is perfect for local and state health departments looking to build their workforce!
• To learn more about this project, and to download evidence-based job descriptions and attractive job postings, visit Region V Public Health Training Center’s website.