The Problem

The conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work, learn, play, and age greatly impact our health. When those conditions are poor, our health outcomes are worse. For many living in Cincinnati, Ohio, those conditions are very poor because many are living in poverty. 
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Boeshart, T., Carlson, D., Davidson, C.S., Lordo, K.L., Samet, M.J., Does Place Matter? Health Equity in Hamilton County. Hamilton County, Ohio: Hamilton County Public Health, Department of Community Health Services, February 2015.
We see the negative impact of these poor conditions in the health outcomes of our population. Our infant mortality rate is nearly double the national average. Huge numbers of children living in Cincinnati miss school because of their uncontrolled asthma. Syphilis continues to be a problem. We see the impact most obviously in the uneven distribution of life expectancy in our city.

The Solution

Cincinnati contains abundant social services designed to serve those living in poverty and address the social determinants of health. However, collaboration and communication between social services and the healthcare world is significantly lacking. Physicians and other healthcare providers are trained to address the medical needs of their patients, but not necessarily the complex social needs of their patients. According to a 2011 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation study, an overwhelming majority of physicians are not confident in their capacity to address their patients' social needs.
In fact, no standard procedure or process exists to address social determinants of health in healthcare settings. Information regarding the proper community resources that address social determinants of health is not centrally located nor easy to access. The solution is multi-faceted, but revolves around communication and collaboration between the social services and the healthcare world. We need to form stronger, city-wide relationships between the healthcare world and social services in Cincinnati. 

Our Work

Our work revolves around promoting the communication and collaboration necessary to form these stronger, city-wide relationships. We are students committed to improving the conditions in which our neighbors and community members are born, grow, live, work, learn, play, and age. We are starting small, but planning big. 

The Conference

Through the Let's Change Our City Conference, we hope to promote communication and collaboration within the Cincinnati community. The relationships built will serve as a means to improve discussions among community resources regarding innovation and efficiency in the care provided to Cincinnatians living in poverty. 

The Resources

Students from across Cincinnati have collected and organized information regarding social services in two different formats. Our hope is to improve knowledge of and access to community resources that fill the social needs of our community members. Check it out, share it with a friend or colleague, and connect a neighbor or community member to a needed social service. 

Spread the word!

Help us make sure that we are receiving information from and distributing information to anybody who might find it useful! Email, post, share, talk about social determinants of health and our work with your family, friends, colleagues, classmates, clients, patients. We care about changing our city and cannot do it alone. Sign up for email updates here! 

Organizations involved: