The Root Cause Coalition provides this weekly update to draw attention to our members’ social determinants of health (SDoH) activities, SDoH in the news and the ever-growing challenges faced by our most vulnerable communities. We encourage you to share SDoH-focused research, events and other resources with us so that we can promote it through our TRCC network. Our aim is to foster an exchange of information that is helpful to others so that those most in need - on whose behalf we work each day - can continue to receive information, access and services to improve health and quality of life. If you have information to share, please email us: contact@rootcausecoalition.org.
TRCC News and Upcoming Events
Submit your National Summit RFP by Tonight! Submit your proposal before Monday, March 14th at 11:59 PST for a chance to present at the 2022 National Summit on the Social Determinants of Health. With this year's theme, Achieving Health Equity: What Are You Prepared to Do?, proposals should be thought provoking, challenging and innovative. Reach out to mflores@rootcausecoalition.org with any questions or concerns.
National Summit Early Bird Registration Opening Soon! Take advantage of Early Bird Registration for this year's National Summit and save 15% by registering between Monday, April 4th and June 6th. Stay tuned to this space for the registration site link and check our website for continued updates on this year's event. TRCC Welcomes Sponsors for 2022 National Summit on the Social Determinants of Health We welcome sponsors to join us in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the 7th Annual National Summit. This year’s prospectus has been carefully curated to provide sponsors unique opportunities that enhance professional relationships and can help reinforce sponsors as a leader in the health equity space. Please reach out to Madison Flores at mflores@rootcausecoalition.org for more information.
Social Determinants in the News
Voting And Civic Engagement Rights Are Eroding: What Does It Mean for Health and Equity? This article summarizes research that draws connections between the health of our democracy and the health of people and populations. The Health and Democracy Index is highlighted and reveals that states with more inclusive voting policies and greater levels of civic participation are healthier, while states with exclusionary voting laws and lower participation are less healthy. The authors call on the health sector to make this connection more explicit, as voting and civic engagement is a key issue in this country’s national health plan, Healthy People 2030.
NIH Releases New Publication on Transgender Women’s Health The latest issue of Women’s Health in Focus, a quarterly publication from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), discusses health concerns unique to, or more prevalent among, transgender women, including high rates of cardiovascular disease, HIV infection and mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. Transgender women also face higher rates of discrimination, social stigma and victimization by violence. The article reviews these health inequities as well as efforts by the White House, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and NIH to understand, prevent and treat the health issues disproportionately faced by transgender women.
2022 State of the State Addresses Reflect Realities of Health, Economic Recovery The National Academy for State Health Policy published a report highlighting health policy topics that cut across governors’ annual state-of-the-state addresses. These speeches are used to promote a state’s successes and accomplishments over the past year and define governors’ policy priorities for the year ahead. This year, priorities include behavioral health, broadband access, COVID-19, racial and ethnic health and economic disparities, housing and homelessness, and the healthcare workforce among other health-related issues. To read about the health-related policies outlined in your governor’s state of the state address, please click here.
New Report Demonstrates Impact of Climate Change on Mental and Physical Health A recently released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report revealed that the extent and magnitude of climate change impacts are larger than previously estimated. The report illustrates the way climate change is causing severe disruption, including changes in agricultural productivity and food availability, clean water access, and other issues affecting people's health and well-being. In response to this report, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and Assistant Secretary Admiral Rachel Levine released a statement underscoring the need for HHS’s new Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE). Secretary Becerra and Admiral Levine reaffirmed HHS’ commitment to using every tool available to promote climate resiliency and protect against the current and future impact of climate change on physical and mental health.
SDOH Advocacy Update
TRCC Sends Letter on White House Conference Last week, TRCC sent a sign-on letter to President Joe Biden, Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Becerra and Domestic Policy Council Director, Ambassador Susan Rice, asking for public support of a second White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health. The letter was signed by 134 organizations that believe the time has come to fully reexamine the changes needed to address hunger and nutrition insecurity in the U.S. To view the letter, click here.
S.3658 - REDI Act This bill was introduced by Senator Jacky Rosen [D-NV], to alleviate health care provider shortages that have particularly impacted rural and underserved communities. The bill would provide economic relief for the next generation of health care providers by allowing for pauses on student loan interest accrual and principal loan repayment as well as for medical and dental students while serving in their residencies or internships. This relief would lower medical school barriers and provide flexibility for providers who serve in rural and underserved areas, improving access to care for these communities. The bill was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
H.R.6696 - HELP Act of 2022 This bill was introduced by Ayanna Pressley to address the growing housing crisis, with a focus on pandemic recovery. The bill would prohibit credit reporting of evictions and rent and utility debt, as well as authorize $10 billion in Emergency Solution Grants (ESG) to fund legal counsel for those facing, or at risk of, eviction. It would also work to minimize illegal evictions, requiring that landlords inform their tenants of their rights and responsibilities and disclose the rationale for an eviction in writing. Finally, it would also direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish a database of eviction information gathered from each State and local entity that receives covered housing assistance. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services
S.198 - Data Mapping to Save Moms' Lives Act This bill was introduced by Senator Jacky Rosen [D-NV] to address the maternal mortality crisis in the U.S. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would be required to map areas in the United States that have both broadband service gaps and high rates of poor maternal health outcomes. This information would then be used to help identify where improved access to telehealth services could be most effective. It would also require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study and submit a report to Congress on the connection between internet connectivity and reduced maternal morbidity rates. The bill passed the Senate in the first week of March and now goes to the House for consideration.
The Root Cause Coalition Member Spotlight
GHHI President and CEO Ruth Ann Norton Named to EPA Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee Green and Healthy Homes Initiative President and CEO, Ruth Ann Norton, has been named to the Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee (CHPAC). CHPAC advises the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a wide range of environmental issues that affect the health of America’s children. Ms. Norton is one of the nation’s leading experts on healthy housing, as she led efforts to reduce childhood lead poisoning by over 98% in the state of Maryland. The Coalition congratulates her on this achievement!
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