Health Systems & Public Health

“Accountable Communities for Health (ACHs) are community-based partnerships formed across sectors such as health care, housing, social services, public health, employment training and economic development to focus on a shared vision and responsibility for the health of the community. The Funders Forum on Accountable Health creates a common table for public and philanthropic funders of ACHs to share learnings and opens the door to future collaboration.”

“For decades, housing professionals, public health officials, and city leaders have recognized the link between people’s homes and their health and well-being. This study examines emerging interventions that integrate housing and health services for low-income people, with a focus on interventions where health care organizations have taken a significant leadership role. Our research pairs over 30 expert interviews with six in-depth case studies to paint a detailed picture of emerging strategies and their potential to be sustained, expanded, and replicated elsewhere. They are all rooted in an idea that is gaining traction among health care leaders across the country: investing in housing is investing in health.”

“Throughout the country, health systems and governmental agencies are partnering with social service providers and other cross-sector organizations to address the social determinants of health impacting their communities. Capitalizing on this national momentum, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) brought together public, private, and nonprofit leaders on Nov. 29-30, 2016 to explore how they could work together to improve health and housing outcomes. This resource guide synthesizes the lessons learned from the 2016 convening and provides public health leaders with strategies to build effective partnerships.”

“This report summarizes the unique perspectives of 11 executives who are at the forefront of community engagement and participated in the BUILD Health Challenge. This report explored the following issues: role of executives; motivations for hospitals and health systems to become BUILD partners; definitions of health equity, social determinants of health, and related strategies; how hospitals invest in and sustain initiatives that address social determinants of health and health equity; [and] lessons learned, advice, and challenges conducting their work.”

“On February 5, 2015, the Roundtable on Population Health Improvement hosted a workshop to explore the relationship between public health and health care, including opportunities, challenges, and practical lessons. The workshop presentations reflected on collaboration [between health care and public health organizations and professionals] in four contexts: payment reform, the Million Hearts initiative, hospital – public health collaboration, and asthma control.”

“The Center to Advance Community Health & Equity uses evidence-informed tools and technical assistance to support strategic approaches to health improvement in communities where health inequities are concentrated.”

“The California Accountable Communities for Health Initiative (CACHI) is a public-private partnership established to realize a more forward-looking approach to building a healthier California.”

In this article, Neal Halfon and coauthors explain the 3.0 Transformation Framework that they “developed to stimulate thinking and support the planning and development of the new roadmap for the next generation of the US health care system” and “how the 3.0 Transformation Framework has been used and applied in national, state, and local settings.”

“Cities nationwide are experiencing housing-related challenges, with a growing share of the population unable to afford to rent or own a home. Residents struggle to afford not just a place to live, but a stable home that supports their health and well-being. This paper explores the factors that contribute to affordable housing and health, including examples of successful strategies used by cities to generate and preserve healthy and affordable housing.”

“Health care organizations and public health agencies have operated in parallel for many decades, brushing up against each other at times of crisis or, occasionally, building on mutual interests. Overlapping objectives of these two health sectors should be obvious, and the collaborative potential evident.” This article discusses the natural barriers health care delivery and public health face to partnering to improve individual and population health.