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Health System Transformation

A host of circumstances – financial, practical, and political – are increasing the recognition that health care, public health, and human service sectors must work together to improve health in a real and sustainable way. The shifting environment includes payment reform, a move to more coordinated, collaborative care, and a greater evidence base that a broad set of determinants impact health outcomes. These drivers are requiring that multiple systems, including health care and human services, work together to address needs such as housing, behavioral health, employment, child care, and others to improve patient health. Innovative approaches within health care and strengthened partnerships with skilled human service providers with intimate understanding of the populations they serve can yield strong community engagement and more effective service delivery models.

Early Education and Care Systems

The healthy physical and emotional development of children, starting with the first few days of life, is the foundation for a healthy and productive lifetime. Prior to school entry, children and families interact with a variety of systems – education, healthcare, housing, and the physical environment – that contribute to thriving children. ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ works with each of these systems to promote individual, family, and community supports for strong families and healthy child development.

Youth Development

A Youth Development Approach recognizes and builds on young people's assets and strengths. Young people who are engaged, active, and supported are critical to building and sustaining healthy communities. ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ takes great pride in engaging youth leaders and committed adults. We believe by expanding the skills and strengths of young people, adults, and youth serving programs, young people will create positive outcomes and, with their adult partners, be engaged in creating positive change in their communities. Public health programs for youth may be built around critical areas such as violence, substance abuse, tobacco prevention, physical health and nutrition, and healthy sexuality.

Tobacco Prevention and Control

ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ is a leader in the tobacco prevention and control movement. We use a multi-pronged approach, emphasizing the diverse policies and practices that can reverse the influence of the tobacco industry and create healthier, tobacco-free communities. We understand that the tobacco industry reinvents its products and establishes marketing tactics to target the most vulnerable populations, including youth, communities of color, and those living in poverty. We are nimble in our approach, providing capacity building services that advance youth tobacco prevention, educating about tobacco cessation strategies, and/or supporting policies for tobacco-free environments.

Asthma

ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ is committed to reducing the burden of asthma within communities through multi-level policy, practice, and educational programs aimed at improving asthma outcomes. We understand that asthma management is a complex issue that involves both clinical and environmental settings. Our extensive experience allows us to address asthma from all angles, connecting the diverse perspectives and resources of community members, health care providers, housing and education agencies, payers, and advocacy organizations.

Substance Use

Communities must take a public health approach to substance use prevention and treatment. At ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ we have experience across the substance use continuum of care, including an understanding of the needs of substance users, their families and caregivers, and treatment and medical service providers. Through our years working in substance use information and referral, community-level prevention, and communications, ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ has a unique understanding of the continuum of care, how individuals seek to access treatment, and roadblocks to recovery.

Healthy Eating, Active Living

ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ has worked with communities on chronic disease prevention for decades, and our healthy eating, active living (HEAL) work increasingly focuses on policy, systems, and environmental change strategies. Community health data reports have helped to focus communities on the chronic diseases caused by obesity and inactivity, and our work supports community-level change to make the healthy choice the easy choice. Many communities are increasing healthy eating in partnership with parents, school systems, and food systems, as well as increasing active living by emphasizing walking, biking, use of stairs, and better parks and play spaces. These changes have broad impact on the community and require a collaborative approach.

Oral Health

Oral health must take a population health approach and engage both the community and health care systems to be truly effective. Community water fluoridation (CWF) has science on its side, and was declared one of top 10 public health successes of the century by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ has conducted oral health trainings across the US for local public health officials, water operators, dentists, hygienists, and others, primarily focused on resisting attempts to end fluoridation. ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ also chairs the National Advisory Board of the Campaign for Dental Health (ilikemyteeth.org), a national CWF movement, and is a member of the national Rapid Response Team (RRT), designed to support local efforts to resist fluoridation rollback attempts.