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Convergence Center For Policy Resolution

Health Starts Here: Strengthening the Policy Environment around Social Factors of Health

October 10, 2024 1:00 pm
Public Event
Virtual Event(s)

Join us virtually on October 10th from 1-2pm ET to hear more about the Collaborative from Project Co-Directors and Participants

Join Convergence to celebrate the release of “Health Starts Here” the Blueprint for Action created by the Convergence Collaborative on Social Factors of Health. 

More than good health care is needed to achieve good health in communities and households. A growing body of research indicates that many “upstream” social factors, from housing conditions and the availability of good nutrition to the availability of social services and basic education, influence a person’s or community’s health status. Recognizing this connection between upstream social factors and health, many health systems have begun to form cross-sector partnerships with a range of organizations focused on housing, nutrition, transportation, and other social services. The policy environment is unfortunately not always conducive to these cross-sector partnerships, however.  

The Convergence Collaborative on Social Factors of Health brought together a group of representative stakeholder organizations and experts from health and social policy organizations to identify policy actions – primarily at the federal and state levels – that would pave the way for cross-sector partnerships with the goal of improving household and community health by addressing social factors of health. They coalesced around consensus solutions in four areas – (1) improving system integration; (2) building an SDOH workforce; (3) financing SDOH approaches; and (4) addressing data sharing, evaluation, and experimentation – outlined in further detail in “Health Starts Here” the Blueprint for Action from the Convergence Collaborative on Social Factors of Health.  

Join us on October 10th to hear more about the Collaborative from Project Co-Directors: 

  • Stuart Butler, Scholar in Residence, Economic Studies, The Brookings Institution and Member, Convergence Board of Directors 
  • Caryn Hederman, Principal, Hederman Consulting, LLC 

The event will also feature Collaborative Participants sharing the impact of the “Health Starts Here” Blueprint for Action: 

  • Brian Corbin, Executive Vice President, Member Services, Catholic Charities USA 
  • Blair Harrison, Senior Policy Director, Population Health and Social Care, UnitedHealthcare Community & State
  • Sue Pechilio Polis, Vice President, Public Relations and Government Affairs, Lutheran Services in America 

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