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Reimagining Justice: Health Equity & Social Determinants of Health

 

Sponsored by Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., and DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement

In the past 10 years, media attention has focused increasingly on the reality that health status, longevity—and other indicators of physical and emotional well-being—are functions of a complex set of factors including race, income, intergenerational wealth, educational status, and more. It turns out that having health insurance and access to health care are just one piece of the puzzle.

Health equity should be a primary concern for faith communities. Because local congregations interact with vulnerable people through a variety of outreach activities, we are well-positioned to understand the connections between the many social determinants that impact health. Access to healthy food, the availability of safe, affordable housing, and proximity to sources of pollution are all examples of these “social determinants of health” – the things that influence and impact health status.

We hope this podcast series inspires you to learn more about health equity and the social determinants of health in your local community, so you can be an effective advocate for a healthy future for ALL Texans.

Featured Episode

Environmental Impacts of Health Equity with Bee Moorhead

For our series finale, Scott Atnip is joined by Executive Director Bee Moorhead to discuss the environmental impacts of health equity.

Episode 10    |    25min

Agriculture, Hunger, and the Pandemic

Agriculture, Hunger, and the Pandemic

The agriculture industry and hunger relief have been inextricably tied together since the beginning of organized government food assistance in the 1930’s. Without our country’s farmers and ranchers—which in Texas alone is a $100 billion industry, the food supply we...

Hunger and Racism

Hunger and Racism

The charitable response to hunger represents a significant part of our hunger safety net in the United States. Many churches, synagogues, and mosques administer food distribution through pantries and soup kitchens because it represents a calling of their faith. Prior...

Choose Your Own Adventure

Choose Your Own Adventure

On May 20, Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, and Speaker Bonnen issued a memo directing state agencies and institutions of higher education to identify strategies for immediately reducing their current budgets by five percent. In their memo, the leaders stated...

It’s for the Kids

It’s for the Kids

Some of the biggest pieces to the hunger safety net are the child nutrition programs. Millions of children eat meals at school through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. Add to those the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer...