We focus on developing partnerships with community-based organizations to address the inequities in health outcomes among vulnerable populations throughout New York. We aim to foster a relationship characterized by mutuality, equality of status, clearly defined goals, and effective communication. Additionally, we aim to fully integrate key stakeholders in collaborative research and outreach programs that will generate new evidence and achieve health equity.
Social Determinants of Health Equity (SDOH)
In many medical settings, patients’ health-related social and contextual needs – transportation, housing stability, food security, literacy – can be better identified and then responded to. Cornell’s Master of Public Health Program, Cayuga Health Partners (CHP) and the Care Connections Clinic have partnered to mentor CCHEq-affiliated students as they develop, pilot and evaluate a Social Determinants screening and referral tool. The aim is to expand this strategy to all primary care practices in the CHP’s network, with the ultimate goal of reducing health disparities by bringing attention to these needs and providing referrals that can assist patients. An Engaged Opportunity Grant from Cornell made this collaboration possible. Project Lead: Lara Parrilla, MPH
SDOH Form | SDOH Brochure | Financial Assistance | Childcare & Adult Ed Poster | Social Support Poster | Housing Flyer | Transportation Flyer | Food Resources
Under the guidance of this project’s community and academic partners, the students have developed six different posters to raise awareness of the social determinants of health, a brochure for patients with relevant community resources, and a screening tool. In 2021, the screening tool, referral system, and communication materials will be pilot tested, monitored, and evaluated. Cayuga Health Partners will also work with the Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County to integrate 2-1-1’s community services database into CHP’s data warehouse to power a patient-centered online resource directory for self-referrals. CHP also aims to onboard a small group of community-based organizations onto their new patient referral platform.
Community Health Improvement Plan Analysis Project (CHIP)
The Community Health Improvement Plan Analysis Project is an Ithaca-based initiative led by Cornell Cooperative Extension that aggregates the identified health equity related needs and correlated evidence-based interventions that are being implemented by local health departments and their partners in every county in NYS. Cornell Center for Health Equity Undergraduate Student Chapter members will produce an executive summary of needs and interventions along with county-specific reports which will be presented to Cooperative Extension Executive Directors and CCHEq members. The intention here is to explore the potential for such work to foster cross-county and county-campus funding proposals and other partnerships between faculty and community-based organizations. Students will further contribute to this effort by producing summaries of the literature around key interventions that will be of use to community stakeholders in planning grant proposals and operationalizing similar interventions. This project is made possible through an Engaged Opportunity Grant from the Office of Engagement Initiatives at Cornell. Project Leads: Adam Hughes, MPH, Lara Parrilla, MPH, and Chris Kai-Jones, PhD | View the New York State Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Guide
