The Root Cause Coalition provides this weekly update to highlight our members’ social determinants of health (SDOH) activities, SDOH in the news, and the ever-growing challenges faced by our most vulnerable communities. We encourage you to share SDOH-focused research, events and other resources with us so that we can promote it through our TRCC network. Our aim is to foster an exchange of information that is helpful to others so that those most in need—on whose behalf we work each day—can continue to receive information, access and services to improve their health and quality of life.

Registration Now Open for the 2024 TRCC National Summit
Registration is now open for the 2024 National Summit on the Social Drivers of Health, held October 6-8 in Baltimore, Maryland. Our goal at the National Summit is to facilitate collaboration between and highlight the incredible work being done across the country by every type of organization working to achieve health equity.  As such, the agenda reflects the cross-sector nature of our work and focuses on demonstrable, scalable, innovative ideas and programs and discussions with national health equity experts. Don’t miss out on early bird registration rates starting at $695 for members (beyond member-only complimentary registrations) and $795 for non-members, including access to all sessions, meals and special features of the Summit. TRCC members' primary contacts had been sent an e-mail from Molly Melnick, TRCC Member Relations Coordinator, last week with instructions on how to redeem their organizations' complimentary registrations as a benefit of TRCC membership. 

TRCC News

The Coalition Announces Impact Award Winners
TRCC is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 TRCC Impact Award! This esteemed award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to health equity through their work in elected or career government service. The recipients exemplify the core values of TRCC, demonstrating a deep commitment to SDoH, visionary policy leadership, equity-driven advocacy, and a collaborative spirit. Please join us in congratulating the recipients of the 2024 TRCC Impact Award: Senator Alex Padilla, Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Representative Robin Kelly, Representative Michelle Steel and Garrett Devenney, HRSA Chief of Staff. The recipients were recognized during the TRCC Advocacy Day on May 15, 2024. Click here to read the full news release.

Root of the Issue
Check out Root of the Issue, TRCC’s podcast that explores the passion and purpose of individuals from across the nation who have dedicated themselves to championing health equity for all. Check out the most recent episodes, and all archived episodes, here! Root of the Issue can be accessed on TRCC’s website and on your favorite podcast app, including Apple, Spotify and Google. 

TRCC Member Highlight

CHA to Host Food Insecurity Webinar Series
Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) is partnering with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Share Our Strength and Food Research Action Council (FRAC) on a five-part webinar series that considers how pediatricians and other health care professionals can promote food security at the clinical, community, state, and national level. The Building Pediatrician Capacity to Address Food Insecurity Webinar Series will run from June 25 to August 14, with sessions such as “Building Community Connections: Partnerships to Increase Food Accessibility” and “Connecting Pediatrics with WIC Through Data Sharing: A Conversation With USDA”. Click here to learn more and register.

Interested in learning more about membership and engagement with The Root Cause Coalition and how your organization can join our work toward health equity for all? Please reach out to Molly Melnick, Member Relations Coordinator at mmelnick@rootcausecoalition.org

Social Determinants in the News

Older Women Are Different Than Older Men. Their Health Is Woefully Understudied
This article considers the various instances in which the health of older women is understudied and undertreated relative to that of older men. It explains that trials for many drugs to treat key conditions such as Alzheimer’s and high cholesterol are conducted primarily on older men, with the results extrapolated to women. When analogous studies are conducted on women, the medications are often found to have a different level of effectiveness, or a different impact entirely. Women are both more likely to have chronic conditions and illnesses in old age than men, and to live longer than men by around five years, both of which make the health of older women a critical area of research. 

Focus on Environmental Justice motivates MI Healthy Climate Conference
This article provides a priority summary of the annual Michigan Healthy Climate Conference, with the theme of “Accelerating Action,” reflecting a commitment to action for environmental justice and clean energy transition. The conference speakers highlighted the need to center the needs of communities most impacted by climate change in environmental justice work. In accordance with the national Justice40 policy, which dedicates at least 40% of particular state and federal investments to locally-led environmental justice efforts in disadvantaged communities, the conference announced several mechanisms to channel funds to these efforts, including $20 million in Environmental Justice Impact Grants, $11 million in Climate Justice Challenge funding to help pursue EPA grants, and $1 million in Technical Assistance Program funding to assist with implementation of resources.  

Health Equity Research in Population Health: Building the Necessary Workforce
This article highlights the importance of considering the composition of population health research teams and the pipeline of health equity researchers given the increased interest and funding in health equity research. The author outlines two primary workforce challenges in the field of health equity research which include an undersupply of researchers trained in the field of health equity and a lack of diversity within the health equity workforce. To address these issues, the author calls for more inclusive recruitment strategies that value lived experience as much as formal academic training to bring more individuals from underrepresented and affected communities into the field. 

A Short History of SNAP
This article provides a brief history of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The first Food Program began operating in 1939 as a mechanism to connect unmarketable food surpluses to populations experiencing widespread unemployment. After a period of inactivity, in 1964 the Johnson administration made the program a permanent approach to improving nutrition in low-income households and supporting the agricultural economy. Through the late 1980s, the program slowly eliminated barriers to participation, allowing for rapid increases in enrollment. Since the 1990s, the program has shifted from physical food stamps to an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system, which allows for electronic transfer of federal benefits and checkout functioning similarly to a debit card. SNAP continues to evolve, as a major mechanism for making high-quality nutrition accessible to all Americans.

SDoH Advocacy Update

TRCC’s Equity Legislation Monitor for 118th Congress
TRCC’s Equity Legislation Monitor (ELM) was developed by TRCC to identify priority issues affecting health disparities and relevant legislation that address them. The ELM provides updates and pertinent information on research, news and legislation in eight priority areas: digital equity; environment and climate change; gun violence prevention; housing; maternal health; nutrition and food security; rural health; and payment models. 

USDA Releases SNAP State Options Report
The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) recently released the 16th edition of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) State Options Report. This report summarizes 21 SNAP policy options and waivers and categorizes the 53 SNAP State agencies according to the options and waivers they have implemented. SNAP state agencies include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. The report outlines the degree of flexibility that Federal law and regulations provide to state agencies allowing them to adapt the program to best meet the needs of eligible households in their jurisdictions. To view the full report, click here. 

H.R.8543 - Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act
This bill, introduced by Representative Doris Matsui [D-CA] would provide a permanent authorization of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) model, which has an emphasis on providing comprehensive services and care coordination. This authorization would allow all states to incorporate this model into their behavioral health care systems. The bill would permanently authorize a Medicaid payment system for the CCBHC model as well as establish a definition of services and prospective payment system for CCBHCs under Medicare. It would also establish a new certification and accreditation process for CCBHCs and a technical assistance program at HHS to encourage program integrity and quality of care. Additionally, it would include grant funding for certified or potential CCBHCs to expand their services and improve their systems for data reporting. The bill was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means

H.R.8422 - Mental Health Emergency Needs in Disasters (MEND) Act
This bill was introduced by Representative Becca Balint [D-VT] to address the mental health impact of natural disasters, such as droughts, wildfires, heatwaves, and flooding that are becoming more common due to the climate crisis. The bill would establish a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant program to send mobile mental health crisis units following a major disaster declaration. These mobile mental health units would provide counseling services to victims of a major disaster, with professionals who are specifically trained to provide culturally appropriate care. The units would include both professional behavioral health counselors and non-clinical staff to share information about resources, preventive materials and establish peer support networks. It would also establish a grant program for states or Indian tribal governments to provide behavioral health treatment, such as screenings and diagnoses, crisis counseling, crisis helplines, and other service-delivery programs to individuals affected by a major disaster. Finally, it directs FEMA to establish a research program on the effects of major disasters on incidences and severity of mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and alcohol use disorders across cultural, racial and socioeconomic groups. The bill was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology.

H.R.3916 - SCREENS for Cancer Act
This bill, introduced by Representative Joseph Morelle [D-NY], would reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which provides public education, outreach, patient navigation, and care coordination to ensure equitable access to breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services in low-income and uninsured communities. The program supports partnerships between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state departments of health to address SDoH barriers to care and reduce disparities in rates of breast and cervical cancer in underserved populations. The bill was reported favorably by the Committee on Energy and Commerce and placed on the Union Calendar for a vote.