Realizing resilience: A first look at health center and social sector response to social determinants of health needs during COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists Community Resilience as one of its Six Domains of Preparedness in public health emergency response. Developing a sustainable and integrated foundation comprised of key stakeholders, resources, and knowledge are critical to building a culture of health and resilience, when responding to vulnerable populations’ needs and improving health outcomes during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over 200 health center, Primary Care Association, Health Center Controlled Network, and social service partners reflected on how their organizations are proactively addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and strategies to enhance partnerships around social risks. To capture communities’ initial needs magnified by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) jointly conducted a national survey and hosted a virtual conversation in Spring/Summer 2020.

This informational snapshot summarizes preliminary key takeaways identified by some or many survey and webinar participants (Participants) when detecting, prioritizing, and informing community needs magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic and methods in which to strengthen cross-sector alignment strategies between health center, public health, and social service partners.