Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1367416
10/4/2019 From Emergencies To Equity: The Growing Role Of Hospitals In Community Health | Health Affairs https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20190930.475240/full/ 4/7 community health and health equity. They aim to change systems and policies that create the need for social and health services in the rst place. Moving Forward With increased fear and uncertainty arising from national rhetoric that alienates and discriminates against people of different faiths, immigrants, the LGBTQ community, and people of color, coalitions can amplify resident voices and serve as organized advocates for social justice across topics and jurisdictions. As a funder anchored within a health care system, the St. Joseph Health Community Partnership Fund remains committed to meeting the immediate clinical and social needs of the community as part of its mission. However, it is also committed to ensuring that its local hospitals serve as key allies and actors in upstream efforts. Social determinants of health efforts will be more effective and sustainable when they go beyond service creation or coordination as their main goals and also address policy and systems change. This must be done by intentionally considering the intersections between those policies and practices in areas like housing, jobs, education, social connectedness, and others. Clinical strategies alone won't lead to healthier outcomes. It is critically important to address the root causes of health problems and eliminate health inequities. For that reason, health systems and funders must engage in community-level initiatives that take on the upstream causes of health problems and seek solutions to them.