This weekly bulletin is provided by The Root Cause Coalition to provide news and information on the social determinants of health, as well as a snapshot of the Coalition’s activities.
The Root Cause Coalition provides this weekly update to draw attention to our members’ social determinants of health (SDoH) activities, SDoH in the news and the ever-growing challenges faced by our most vulnerable communities. We encourage you to share SDoH-focused research, events and other resources with us so that we can promote it through our TRCC network. Our aim is to foster an exchange of information that is helpful to others so that those most in need - on whose behalf we work each day - can continue to receive information, access and services to improve health and quality of life. If you have information to share, please email us: contact@rootcausecoalition.org
TRCC News and Upcoming Events
Sign Up for TRCC’s New Public Insights Webinar: Mental Health and Well-Being Join The Root Cause Coalition, in collaboration with the Children’s Hospital Association, for a webinar on our latest public insights research. Speakers will share unique research findings about how the public considers and is affected by mental health issues. The Children’s Hospital Association will also share an update on their Sound the Alarm for Kids initiative. The webinar will be held January 25th, Noon – 1 p.m. ET. Register here today! The research will be released and available on TRCC’s website the same day. TRCC Welcomes Sponsors for 2022 National Summit on the Social Determinants of Health Resuming as an in-person gathering for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, the 2022 Summit will focus on achieving health equity. This year’s prospectus has been carefully curated to provide sponsors with unique opportunities that enhance professional relationships and can help reinforce sponsors as a leader in the health equity space. Please reach out to Madison Flores at mflores@rootcausecoalition.org for more information.
TRCC’s Health Justice Award recognizes organizations that have successfully implemented a program or intervention to reduce health disparities within the past three years. The inaugural winner of this Award will receive $25,000 and will be formally honored at TRCC’s Annual National Summit on the Social Determinants of Health, held in Minneapolis, this October 2-4th. To learn more and apply before January 31st, please click here.
Check out TRCC’s updated overview “Working Collaboratively to Achieve Health Equity and Health Justice by Addressing the Social Determinants of Health” that describes TRCC’s work, mission and initiatives. Please share with colleagues and other organizations interested in learning more about TRCC.
Social Determinants in the News
Hospital Gives $1.2M to Improve Housing Quality University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center recently awarded a $1.2 million grant to a public-private partnership working to prevent lead poisoning in substandard housing across Cleveland. Cleveland’s rates of lead poisoning rates are four times higher than the national average. More than 9 in 10 rental units in the city were built before lead-based paint was banned nationally, disproportionately affecting low-income and underserved populations who are more likely to be renters. The grant is a part of the Hospital’s social investment work that focuses on environmental factors and their impact on an individual’s health. California tries new approach on social maladies In the 2022-23 budget, Governor Gavin Newsom revealed a new approach for Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program that serves more than one-third of the state’s population. This approach integrates social determinants on a statewide level and is intended to address health disparities. Components of this equity-focused framework include automatic Medi-Cal enrollment of inmates after their release from incarceration and the assignment of personal care managers who would provide services such as housing and income support along with medical care monitoring of patients. Age, SDoH Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy A report from the National Institute on Minority and Health Disparities revealed that African Americans living in the southern U.S, those under 30 and those experiencing housing insecurity attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic were most likely to be resistant to receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. These findings highlight the vaccination gaps including the need for trust building as well as new ways to reach younger individuals and housing-insecure individuals who may have limited or no reliable interaction with health care systems.
SDOH Advocacy Update
H.R.6302 - Protecting the Health of America’s Older Adults Act This bill, introduced by Representative Lois Frankel (D-FL), would provide funding for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants to health departments and community-based organizations working to develop and implement healthy aging programming. Grant funding would be used to enhance the coordination between healthcare and social services sectors and increase access to demographic data on older adult populations to better inform policy decisions. Funding would also be used for community improvements that address social determinants, promote health and wellbeing and foster independence among older adults. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce S.3476 - SUPPORT Act As introduced by Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), the bill would ensure the nation is prepared to address the behavioral health needs that follow natural and human-caused disasters and public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would require that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) support continued access to treatment for mental health and substance abuse disorders during public health emergencies as well as report on the agency's activities and partnerships that support these services. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) would also be directed to evaluate the programs and activities conducted by SAMSHA and other partners to shape future emergency responses. The bill was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R.6357 - Afterschool Meals Act of 2022 This bill was introduced by Representative Shontel Brown (D-OH) to improve child nutrition and end hunger by providing an additional meal along with free school breakfasts and lunches. The bill would expand the After-School Snack Program, a component of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), allowing schools to serve healthy meals that meet federal nutrition standards at after school programs. As the Snack Program currently exists, after school programs are only allowed to provide smaller meal supplements, which misses an essential opportunity to address food insecurity among students. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. S.3502 - Achieving Racial and Ethnic Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2022 This bill, as introduced by Senator Gary Peters [D-MI], would establish the Office of Equal Rights and Community Inclusion at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This office would work to improve the access and quality of disaster assistance in underserved communities and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in disaster assistance delivery. It would also be responsible for coordinating with other branches of FEMA and the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate allegations of racial and ethnic disparities within disaster response efforts. The bill was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
The Root Cause Coalition Member Spotlight
TRCC Welcomes GA Foods into the Coalition GA Foods has joined TRCC as a new Partner. As a national meal delivery program, GA Foods services the nutritional needs of healthcare patients, seniors, children, the military and emergency responders. Marketed under the SunMeadow® brand name, GA Foods designs healthy meals, meets unique nutritional needs and prepares meals for delivery with fresh, high-quality ingredients. We are delighted to welcome this organization as we collectively work toward our mission of health equity.