Before I jump to bringing you up-to-speed on what I did last week, please allow me to complete the above quote. Following this sentence, Sir Michael Marmot finished with…”and it’s not just about the money. It has more to do with social position than money. We need to create conditions for people to take control of their lives.” Marmot, an England-based and world-renowned Epidemiologist, is one of today’s top thinkers when it comes to Social Determinants of Health.
Social Determinants of Health, sometimes simply referred to as SDoH, are a board set of circumstances that conspire to affect, either positively or negatively, one’s state of health and lifespan. Last week, I along with four other local ‘community development warriors’ (those in the picture), attended a national conference along with 650 colleagues on this topic. It’s always front-and-center with me, that as a Chamber member you may question, “Now why is Bob spending time on that?” Fair enough question, to which my answer will always be Prosperity. You see, we live in an area of great abundance, mostly notably phenomenal, even world-class healthcare. However, we know that this abundance is often squandered and seldom evenly divided.
The basic tenet with Social Determinants of Health is modifying the circumstances which create barriers to good health, thereby promoting the prosperity for individuals, their communities, and their employers.
We are truly fortunate to live in an area where our healthcare providers and systems ‘get it’ when it comes to these determinants of health. In fact, frequently while my colleagues and I reviewed the materials, we commented that, thanks in large part to these healthcare providers, we’re well ahead of the curve on tackling Social Determinants of Health.
So, what’s next? Your Chamber is going to work alongside our Community Services Organization (CSO) colleagues, and anyone else who’s willing to assist, to create and expand the critical initiatives, infrastructure, and programs. We will break down the barriers and build up the opportunities that will result in our valley being recognized as one of nation’s healthiest and most prosperous locations in which to live, work, play, and visit.
By working together, our best days lie just ahead.
All the best,
Bob Garrett
(Pictured are left to right: Jill Walter, Workforce Administrator; Megan Bair, CSO Executive Director; Greg Sacavage, Dean of Students at Mt. Carmel School District/CSO Board Chair; Stacey Snyder, Community Action Administrator; and me.)
