Social Determinants of Health Barriers. It’s a relatively new term in social work, but one that we now breathe each and every day at Trinity. Social Determinants of Health Barriers. Removing these barriers allows community members to focus on improving their education, finding jobs and getting the step up they need.
There are three main Social Determinants of Health Barriers and they follow closely with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The first is housing. If people have a place to live, and don’t have to worry if they’ll be safe tonight, they can focus on the next steps in the road to success. The second is health care. In short, providing preventative health and wellness opportunities, gives people more access to living healthy lives. Not having to worry about being sick, allows people to spend more time focused on education and employment.
Trinity clearly focuses on both of those barriers, but the third barrier is one that is a constant focus for us – food. With SNAP benefits cut in early March and the constant inflation at the grocery store, food has been even more difficult to get for our community members. We can add to those worries an ever shifting food supply chain, which has led to a decrease in available food, both to our Food Pantries and to the local Food Bank. All of these factors have meant that we will have fewer Mass Food Distribution Days this summer. And, with less access to food – either paid or through pantries – community members will have less time to focus on education and employment.
Here’s where you can help the most – donate. Donate food to the Food Bank. Donate food to our Food Pantry. Even an extra five cans of food can make a huge difference if everyone reading this newsletter donated them. If you have food you’d like to drop off, just contact us at [email protected]. Together we can reduce the Social Determinants of Health Barriers and watch all community members make Albany the best place to live.
Thanks,
—Harris Oberlander