Advancing Health Equity
Perhaps more than any other health crisis occurring in the past century, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the stark health disparities in our nation, particularly for communities of color. These disparities and others are evident in the ways different people and groups experience the social determinants of health (SDoH), which are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These factors include socioeconomic status, access to health care, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, and social support networks. As such, community-based organizations play a critical role in strengthening the health and well-being of communities by addressing the social needs of individuals and families.
Session 1: Social Determinants of Health Overview
During this webinar, Mary E. Garr, president of Family Service in San Antonio, will share how the organization has evolved to improve the SDoH experienced by its communities. In addition, the organization’s approach addresses adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) by adopting the practice of trauma-informed care when working with individuals and families. Key to this initiative is the use of screening for social need, which helps to identify effective interventions sooner. The organization has also created a multiyear scorecard to guide its path to supporting community health and help all employees understand what they are working to achieve. Through this ongoing organizational development, positive health outcomes for people and strengthened neighborhoods are possible.
Learn more about the evolution of Family Service in Reframing Your Organization’s Work with the Social Determinants of Health (Webinar)
Session 2: ACEs Interface
In this session, participants will learn about the adverse childhood experiences (ACE) study, along with science that explains why ACEs have had an immense impact on people's lives. This session will provide information on how we can dramatically improve health and resilience today and future generations of communities and families.
Session 3: Health Access for Special Populations
Quality care and access for special populations and communities is essential yet remains a challenge for many today. During this webinar, the presenter will share and define who are special populations, the challenges of health access for these populations, and what factors contribute to systems that are meant to ensure quality care for all.
About the Social Current Health Equity Series
Everyone needs the building blocks for health and well-being in order to thrive, reach their full potential, and meaningfully contribute to society. But as the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated, people of color and many others are disproportionately affected by sickness and death due to reduced access to care, higher chronic disease burden, and historical racial bias within health care institutions. Social Current and its network of partners are committed to health equity as a key strategy to increase the safety and well-being of individuals, families, and communities most impacted by inequality and racism.
Intended audience:
- Executives
- Program directors
- Staff in population health/health equity
- Quality managers
- Policy leaders
- Community leaders
Takeaways:
Session 1: Social Determinants of Health Overview
- A framework of SDoH used nationally
- How SDoH and ACEs intersect
- Why it is critical for community-based organizations to understand the SDoH and how community members are affected
- How community-based organizations can partner with other sectors in addressing the SDoH
• Session 2: ACEs Interface
- About ACEs and how they occur
- How people adapt to trauma
- How to be aware of the impact of trauma and build resilience in the populations you serve
• Session 3: Health Access for Special Populations
- Core factors that affect access and care for special populations
- Participants will be able to identify special populations with shared language
- Strategies that provide equitable solutions to serving special populations
Instruction Methods: Lecture and facilitated discussion.
Presenter
Romero Davis, Director of Practice Excellence, Social Current
Mary Garr, President & CEO Family Services, San Antonio
Mary Garr is the president and CEO of Family Service, a nonprofit in San Antonio that provides a broad array of services to empower individuals, transform families, and strengthen the health of communities by addressing the social determinants of health that directly impact peoples’ lives based on where they live, learn, work, play, and age.
Garr is an experienced leader with three decades of diverse roles in several industries, including health care, city management, nonprofits, and the military, as a CEO and COO. Her last two military assignments were at Fort Sam Houston. She served as the last Garrison Commander of Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis, leading her teams in providing all the infrastructure and support services for a small city, supporting mission readiness and quality of life, while merging the Garrison into Joint Base San Antonio. She also stood up the San Antonio Military Health System as its first COO, working to integrate and align Army and Air Force health care delivery in San Antonio.
Over the course of her military career, she served in a variety of command and staff positions both in the U.S. and overseas, in hospital, academic, and operational assignments. Garr graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in foreign studies and obtained master’s degrees in health administration from Baylor University and strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. She has been actively engaged in the San Antonio Community for several years, serving on several boards and committees.