Public health and social justice share a common goal: ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to live a healthy, fulfilling life. While public health focuses on preventing disease and promoting well-being, social justice emphasizes equity and fairness. Together, public health and social justice create a framework for addressing systemic inequalities that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
Public health workers operate where these two fields intersect, acting as catalysts for change and advocates for underserved populations. Their work highlights how addressing social determinants of health can lead to more equitable healthcare outcomes.
At its core, public health is about more than preventing disease. Its about creating the conditions in which everyone can thrive. Social justice provides the foundation for this work by challenging the systems and structures that perpetuate inequality. By focusing on equity, public health professionals can ensure that resources and care are distributed fairly.
The Impact of Social Determinants on Health Outcomes
Health outcomes are often shaped by factors beyond genetics or individual choices. The social determinants of healthsuch as access to quality education, safe housing, nutritious food, and stable employmentplay a significant role in determining a persons overall well-being. However, these determinants are not distributed equally, and systemic barriers can prevent marginalized groups from accessing needed resources.
For example, communities of color and low-income populations frequently face of chronic diseases, limited access to healthcare, and poorer health outcomes. Also, more than 30% of medical costs faced by Black, Hispanic, and Asian-American patients are tied to health inequities, to the American Public Health Association (APHA). The APHA points out that these inequities are avoidable, unnecessary, and unjust and the result of policies and practices that create an unequal distribution of money, power, and resources among communities based on race, class, gender, place, and other factors.
These disparities underscore the importance of addressing systemic inequities to create a more just and equitable society. Public health professionals, particularly those with a social justice perspective, are uniquely positioned to tackle these challenges.
The Role of Community Health Workers in Advancing Equity
Community health workers liaise between healthcare systems and the communities they serve. They work to build relationships, provide health education, and connect people with the resources they need. Their work often includes educating people about preventive care and healthy behaviors, helping patients navigate complex healthcare systems, and advocating for policy changes.
These efforts improve individual health outcomes and contribute to broader systemic changes. The National Association of Community Health Workers six core competencies that enable community health workers to promote social justice and public health.
- Communication skills: Building trust and fostering dialogue with diverse populations.
- Interpersonal skills: Establishing strong relationships within communities.
- Service coordination: Connecting individuals with healthcare providers and social services.
- Capacity building: Empowering communities to advocate for their own health needs.
- Advocacy skills: Influencing policies that address social determinants of health.
- Education and facilitation skills: Providing accessible and culturally relevant health information.
These competencies allow public health workers to act as agents of change, addressing the root causes of health disparities and promoting equity across communities.
Public Health Education and Social Justice
St. 做厙輦⑹ recognizes the vital connection between social justice and public health. Its online Bachelor of Science in Public Health program is designed to develop leaders committed to reducing health disparities and improving outcomes for all. Grounded in a global perspective, the program equips students with the skills to tackle complex public health challenges through a social justice lens.
The emphasizes the importance of addressing social determinants of health empowering students to develop interventions that promote equity and well-being. Courses integrate global health perspectives, ensuring graduates are prepared to make a meaningful impact locally and internationally.
St. 做厙輦⑹ also offers a Community Health Worker Certificate (CHW) that prepares graduates to help people navigate the health system and community services. They also hone their skills in cultural competency, health communication, health education and promotion, and emergency response and preparedness.