Guiding Principles 

Community Engagement 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines Community Engagement as “the process of working collaboratively with and through groups of people who are affiliated by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations to address issues affecting the well-being of those people.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 1997, p. 9) In general, the CDC defines the goals of Community Engagement as to build trust, enlist new resources and allies, create better communication, and improve overall health outcomes as successful projects evolve into lasting collaborations. 

Health Equity 

“Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This requires removing obstacles to health such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care. For the purposes of measurement, health equity means reducing and ultimately eliminating disparities in health and its determinants that adversely affect excluded or marginalized groups.” Excerpted from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation What is Health Equity? Report. 

 

Social Determinants of Health 

“Social determinants of health (SDoH) are the conditions under which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, and include factors such as socioeconomic status, education, employment, social support networks, and neighborhood characteristics. These have a greater impact on population health than factors like biology, behavior, and health care. SDoH, especially poverty, structural racism, and discrimination, are the primary drivers of health inequities. Reducing health inequities is important because they are pervasive; unfair and unjust; individuals affected have little control over the contributing circumstances; affect everyone; and can be avoided with existing policy solutions.” Excerpted from Advancing Health Equity by Addressing the Social Determinants of Health in Family Medicine a position paper by the American Association of Family Physicians.  

 

The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation use a model of population health that includes four broad social determinant of health factors: social and economic factors, health behaviors, clinical care, and the physical environment. 

 

What is a healthy community?  

In Healthy Villages: A guide for communities and community health workers the World Health Organization defines these characteristics of a healthy community: 

  • The physical environment is clean and safe. 

  • The environment meets everyone’s basic needs. 

  • The environment promotes social harmony and actively involves everyone. 

  • There is an understanding of the local health and environment issues. 

  • The community participates in identifying local solutions to local problems. 

  • Community members have access to varied experiences, interaction and communication. 

  • The health services are accessible and appropriate. 

  • The historical and cultural heritage is promoted and celebrated. 

  • There is a diverse and innovative economy. 

  • There is a sustainable use of available resources for all.