simply conduct a community health assessment because the needs of our specialized, vulnerable and underserved communities are vastly different from one another and completely different from the community at large. We must take the time, resources and energy to assess the health of individual communities at a micro level and use that information to meet each community where they are. Those results could then be used to inform an overall community health assessment at the macro level. By administering a CHA in this manner, we can better address health disparities, the social determinants of health (SDOH) and positively influence health equity outcomes. Social determinants of health are the non-medical factors influencing health outcomes, including socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood environments, and access to healthcare. For the Black community, structural racism and systemic inequities have contributed to significant health disparities. Research shows that Black Americans face higher rates of chronic illnesses, including hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, often linked to social determinants such as limited access to healthy foods, quality healthcare, and safe housing. The healthcare system itself reflects these disparities. Studies indicate that Black patients are more likely to receive substandard care, experience implicit bias from providers, and have less access to preventive services. In Denver, Colorado, the Black community faces distinct challenges, including gentrification, housing instability, and healthcare access barriers. Recent reports highlight that Black residents in Denver have higher rates of emergency room visits and poorer health outcomes compared to white counterparts, underscoring systemic gaps in healthcare infrastructure and outreach. Public
health interventions targeting SDOH have shown some success, but gaps remain, particularly in data specific to the Black community in Denver. More localized research is needed to assess the effectiveness of community-based health initiatives and to address racial disparities in healthcare delivery and outcomes.
Solution
To address the aforementioned gap in knowledge regarding the health of our Black community members, I have developed the Black Community Health Assessment (BCHA). The research study aims to examine the SDOH, health disparities and health equity outcomes experienced by the Black community in Denver, Colorado. Once it has been completed, the BCHA will then inform the development of the Black community health improvement plan (BCHIP). As a result, health interventions and treatments can be more effective, better targeted and our community based organizations can implement programs and services which will align with the needs we have identified. In addition, the study will then be used as a template to inform community health assessments for other medically underserved The Black Community Health Assessment was developed based upon the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP 2.0) framework. This public health program planning model is considered best practice within the field of public health and is used to develop Community Health Assessments and Community Health Improvement Plans. The MAPP 2.0 framework uses a community-driven strategic planning communities. Methodology
48 The Acumen
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