Launched this year, the Health Justice Award recognizes organizations that have successfully implemented a program or intervention to reduce health disparities. This marks a new and significant way for the Coalition to elevate the efforts of an organization doing critical work to address the social determinants of health and related gaps in health outcomes.

CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF THE FINALISTS!

The Root Cause Coalition thanks the many innovative and thoughtful Health Justice Award submissions with a special congratulations to the finalists:

Northwell Health - Department of Community and Population Health

Northwell Health, headquartered in the NYC region, epicenter of the COVID outbreak, emerged as a national leader in addressing COVID’s disproportionate impact on vulnerable, low-income and communities of color. Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, Northwell has treated more than276,000 inpatient and ambulatory COVID patients.   Northwell has administered nearly 100,000 COVID tests and 462,000+ COVID vaccinations in partnership with more than 100 community, faith-based, Tribal and county state representative partners who comprise their Health Equity Taskforce, at more than 1,157 faith and community pop-up locations.

Resources for Human Development – Housing Smart in Philadelphia

Resources for Human Development (RHD), along with partners Temple University Health System, Keystone First, and Health Partners Plans launched Housing Smart in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in April of 2020 to improve mental health, physical health and housing stability for individuals experiencing homelessness and with behavioral health challenges.  The program has seen a 74% reduction in ER visits; 50% reduction in in-patient hospital stays; 76% increase in clients seeking care from a primary care provider at a community clinic and a 94% reduction in client visits to mental health Crisis Response Centers.

Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, Inc.

Since 1969, the mission of Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers (SSCHC) has remained unchanged – to improve health outcomes for its patients and community. Among the ways SSCHC does this is by addressing housing insecurity among its patient population. Starting in 2018, SSCHC has used a modified PRAPARE screening tool to better understand patients’ social needs and deliver much-needed social services. SSCHC has, so far, completed more than 7,615 screenings. The data are showing stable/secure housing, which can impact an individual’s overall health, as the top need.  In response, SSCHC connects patients to a variety of social services and partner organizations in the community. SSCHC also provided its patients more than $205,000 in rent assistance and gift cards for basic needs like food and personal items from April 2020-April 2022. Last year, SSCHC cared for more than 41,500 patients in the Milwaukee area through five medical and behavioral health clinics.