Connecticuts Health Equity Index - A Tool for Local Planning April - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Connecticut’s Health Equity Index

• A Tool for Local Planning

April 25, 2012

Connecticut Association of Directors of Health

Conceptual Foundation

LHD PREVENTION- ACA, CTG, NPS, NPA IOM “Assure Conditions”, selection of measures CDC/PHAB Essential P.H. Services NACCHO HP 2020 Eliminate Disparities, SDOH, Multi-sector

The Public Health System

MCOs Home Health Parks Economic Development Mass Transit Employers Nursing Homes Mental Health Drug Treatment Civic Groups CHCs

Laboratory Facilities

Hospitals EMS Community Centers Doctors Health Department Faith orgs Philanthropist Elected Officials Tribal Health Schools Police Fire Environmental Health

HOUSING

Health Equity

• Asserts everyone should have a fair
• pportunity to attain their full health potential,

and no one should be at a disadvantage.

• Creates equal opportunities for good or

improved health, and minimizes avoidable health disparities.

Reference: Health Equity Glossary, CADH 2010 Whitehead, M., The Concepts and principles of equity and health, International Journal of Health Services, 1992; 22: 429-445.

Social Determinants of Health

The circumstances in which people are born, grow up, live, work, and age, as well as the systems put in place to deal with illness. These circumstances are in turn shaped by a wider set of forces: economics, social policies, and politics.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Building Community Capacity

Focus groups were

• rganized by social

determinant category.

• Land use and housing
• Environment
• Public safety
• Economic

development

• Education

2 Unson, Tyson, Funaiole. Agaba; J of Health Disparities Research & Practice; Vol 4, #1, summer 2010, pp 53-69

Our Objectives

Create a measurement tool that:

• Focuses on social determinants of health
• Builds on an analytic foundation
• Expresses results as a single measure, but

permits more sophisticated disaggregation and analysis

• Provides comparability across a wide range of

communities

• Depicts the relationship between inequities and

health outcomes at the local level

• Serves as a platform meant to encourage debate,

dialogue, and action at community level

• Can be used for policy-making and changes in

practices

Social Determinants of Health

Civic Involvement Community Safety Economic Security Education Employment Housing Environmental Quality

Housing Indicators

• 1. Crowded housing as a percent of total households
• 2. Median gross rent as percent of household income
• 3. Number of subsidized housing units per 1000 local

residents

• 4. Owner-occupied housing as a percentage of total

housing units

• 5. Percent of households paying over 30% of income

for mortgages

• 6. Percent of households paying over 30% of income

for rent

• 7. Percent of households that have moved in the last 5

years

• 8. Rental vacancy rates as a percentage of rental units

Health Outcomes

Infectious Disease Perinatal Care Childhood Illness Accidents/Violence Renal Disease Diabetes Mental Health Cardiovascular Health Care Access Respiratory Illness Liver Disease Cancer Life Expectancy

Structure of the Health Equity Index

• Each Determinant is comprised of a number of Indicators.
• Indicators are measures that have been identified, and

collected on a statewide basis.

• A Statewide Reference Point that is based upon the

Connecticut median for each indicator.

• From the reference point, cities, towns, and neighborhoods are

assigned scores (from 1 to 10) for each indicator.

• For each determinant and health outcome, the Health Equity

Index generates an average score for every city, town, and neighborhood.

Town Scores

Compare Towns

Scores on the Town Summary Page

• Indicators
• Health Outcome Indicators
• Determinants
• Index

Side-by-Side Mapping

Correlation

The Health Equity Index can be used to:

• Assess health impacts of development
• Inform town plans of conservation and

development

• Inform zoning and ordinance revisions to

promote health

• Support housing and transportation

initiatives that create more affordable housing in neighborhoods of opportunity

LHDs Have Used the Health Equity Index to:

• Write grants and secure funding awards
• Assess community health needs
• Sharpen their focus in strategic planning

and decision-making

• Foster collaboration with community
• rganizations and municipal leaders
• Promote workforce development and

enhance employee skill levels

Questions?