Building Capacity in Public Health for Action on the Social Determinants
2015
This case study explores the development of organizational capacity to address the social determinants of health in a public health unit. These social determinants are factors outside the traditional healthcare system— such as income, social status, education, employment, social and physical environments, and culture—that significantly influence our health; they can be protective when evenly available, but often are distributed in ways that are unfair or unjust, acting as risk conditions that disproportionately affect certain populations. The case describes efforts by the Canadian public health sector in translating health equity rhetoric into action and tangible reductions in health inequities.
This case includes guidance for instructors, including learning objectives and discussion questions. This case is part of a 13-case collection written by students in the inaugural MPH class of the Schulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health at Western University, Canada. The cases may be copied and used free of charge without permission for any educational uses by an accredited educational institution.
Building Capacity in Public Health for Action on the Social Determinants
Source:
Longo G, Churchill K, Wylie L. Returning to Our Roots: Building Capacity in Public Health for Action on the Social Determinants of Health. Western Public Health Casebook. Public Health Casebook Publishing 2015. https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/publichealth/cases/Casebook2015.html.