The Alliance for Strong Families and Communities envisions a society where all children, adults, and families can enjoy health, safety, and well-being in their life. However, this vision remains elusive for many Americans due to social inequities and complex health and social needs. On a national scale, the U.S. has the most expensive health care delivery system and some of the worst health outcomes among industrialized nations.

Human services community-based organizations can play a critical role in:

  • Placed-based initiatives
  • Reducing health disparities
  • Social Determinants of Health

Working Together for Better Health and Well-Being

The Alliance and our strategic action network of thousands of social sector leaders and partners are working to advance improved health care that is holistic, preventive, and focuses on the social determinants of health.

This is what it will take:

  • Address Health Holistically. Many factors determine an individual’s health: Genetic, behavioral, medical, and social. Behavior, for example, influences about 30 percent of a person’s health. But 50 percent of health outcomes are affected by socioeconomic factors and physical environment factors, known commonly as the social determinants of health. There is growing evidence that addressing both social and medical conditions yields better results for individuals. Learn more about the social determinants of health.

  • Champion the Return on Investment of Robust Human Services and Social Care. Poor health and the demand for medical services are primarily driven by behavioral and social factors. Because human services has expertise in cost-effectively providing evidence-based services for individuals who experience challenges due to socioeconomic and environmental factors, they can reduce the financial burden to America’s health system. Advocate for investments in human services.
  • Build Partnerships between Health Care and Human Services Systems. As a key part of America’s health and human services continuum, community-based organizations are uniquely positioned to meet the needs of individuals with complex social and health care needs. When health care providers and community-based organizations work together, the health of individuals improves and costs are effectively managed. Discover how partnerships are a key component to our strategy in providing health care to America’s communities.

To foster conversation and frame the social social sector’s work through the lens of the social determinants of health, use our systems change principles .