How Aligning Sectors Builds Resilient, Equitable Communities

Abstract

C ommunities of color have been particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing weaknesses and structural inequities in systems of care and support. Disparities in how the virus affected different people and communities are evident in nearly every aspect of the pandemic including risk of exposure, infection, hospitalization, and death, as well as in the vaccine rollout.We know this inequity is caused by conditions much broader than a single viral molecule. Neighborhood and physical environment, lifelong chronic and cumulative exposure to social and economic stressors, 1 occupation and job conditions, income and wealth, and education all play a major role in the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Recovering from the virus and building resilience for future crises require a cohesive strategy to address these broader determinants of health for the long term.While people in health care, public health, and social services sectors in some communities have coordinated efforts for years, the pandemic has inspired others that have not worked this way before to begin aligning in ways that can address both short-and long-term goals and needs of individuals and entire communities.

Social determinants of health as a framework to identify and assess cross‐sector funding opportunities

“…[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Many practitioner-focused organizations also urge investments in cross-sector initiatives. [1][2][3][22][23][24] For example, Aligning for Health, a member association that advocates for cross-sector strategies, identified legislation introduced to Congress that could impact SDOH. 24 However, few of the above-described analyses use a theory-driven approach to describe legislation characteristics that might appeal to cross-sector collaboratives and others working in partnership to advance cross-sector solutions for urgent public health issues.…”

Organizational and community resilience for COVID‐19 and beyond: Leveraging a system for health and social services integration

“…Additionally, community resilience during the pandemic requires the resilience of organizations beyond health care, including public health and social service organizations that address upstream factors and social determinants of health. Studies suggest that communities with greater alignment among health care, social services, and public health prior to the pandemic were able to mount stronger and more equitable responses 18 . However, little is known about what contributes to the resilience of aligned systems or how particular aspects of these systems may serve as resources for community resilience.…”

A case study on variations in network structure and cross‐sector alignment in two local systems serving pregnant and parenting women in recovery

“…Aligning Systems for Health is a program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and coordinated through the Georgia Health Policy Center. The Framework for Aligning Sectors (Framework) posits that when organizations within healthcare, public health, and social services align around shared purpose, data, financing, and governance, they are more likely to contribute to broader community health goals 37 . Using the Framework as a conceptual model, the SHERO (Strengthening Health Equity and Recovery Outcomes) study was designed to measure and compare overall and cross‐sector alignment around purpose, data sharing, governance, and financing.…”