For the Sake of All
- Published on Friday January 27th, 2017
Intervening on social determinants of health to address health disparities at the regional level requires commitment from a broad set of institutions and stakeholders across sectors. Fostering this cross-sector collaboration to improve health and well-being is one of the primary goals of For the Sake of All, a community-academic partnership in St. Louis, MO. Since 2013, the initiative has engaged in data presentation, research translation, strategic communication, and extensive engagement with community members, policymakers, and other key stakeholders around six recommendation areas. These recommendations were made in the For the Sake of All report released in May 2014 and include increasing investment and policy attention in the areas of early childhood development; school-based health and health care; economic opportunity; mental health; safe, inclusive neighborhoods; and chronic and infectious disease prevention and management. In the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, For the Sake of All emerged as a key resource for understanding and addressing the underlying regional inequities that have resulted in long-standing disparities in health and other life course outcomes.
For the Sake of All has helped to shape the conversation about health and other disparities in the St. Louis region in the wake of Ferguson, but conversation alone will not change conditions. Ultimately, coordinated efforts across organizations, institutions, sectors, and geographic boundaries are necessary to bring both policies and practices in line with the evidence-based and community-informed recommendations contained in the For the Sake of All report.
For the Sake of All has already begun to facilitate such coordinated action. In September 2015, over 60 key stakeholders from government, philanthropy, education, health, nonprofits, advocacy, and academia came together for Part 1 of “Evidence into Action: Next Steps For the Sake of All,” a convening co-hosted with the Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis. These leaders prioritized strategies from among the six areas of recommendation through daylong, small-group discussion sessions. Their priority lists were narrowed down to eight strategies:
- Increase quality of early childhood programs and increase knowledge and utilization of existing resources.
- Increase access and support for Child Development Accounts.
- Build capacity around the coordinated school health model.
- Establish school-based clinics in high-need areas.
- Develop a regional data center to collect, analyze, and share mental health data.
- Address violence as a public health issue.
- Establish a coordinating organization to advocate for development, tax, and zoning policies for inclusive, affordable housing.
- Address social and economic barriers to health in medical settings.
During Part 2 of “Next Steps For the Sake of All: Evidence into Action,” an event co-hosted with Forward Through Ferguson and the Institute for Public Health in February 2016, over 100 stakeholders developed initial implementation plans to move these strategies into action. Led by professional facilitators from BJC HealthCare’s Center for Clinical Excellence, 13 leaders from the healthcare, education, philanthropic, and mental health sectors in St. Louis formed a school-based health center (SBHC) work group and began plans to sustain and expand health and mental health services within high need area high schools.
School-based health centers provide physical, mental, and preventative health services to address the needs of students. They are typically operated in partnership with health care providers such as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) or hospitals.
With regular meetings between April and December 2016, the SBHC work group now consists of 80 stakeholders, representing 40 organizations from diverse sectors including business, community organizations, funders, government, healthcare, nonprofits, higher education, and primary and secondary education. The group’s goals are to sustain the existing SBHCs (i.e., the Mercy Clinic at Roosevelt High School and The SPOT at Jennings High School) and to open two new centers in high schools within high need areas. Stakeholders include:
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Affinia Health Center BJC Healthcare Community Member Comtrea Deaconess Foundation Family Care Health Center FOCUS St. Louis Forward Through Ferguson Hazelwood School District Maternal Child Family Health Coalition Mercy Mercy Clinic at Roosevelt High School Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Missouri Department of Social Services Missouri Foundation for Health Missouri State Board of Education Missouri Wonk Monsanto Fund Myrtle Hilliard Davis Health Center People's Health Center |
Places for People Ready by 21 St. Louis Riverview Gardens School District Rockwood School District Saint Louis Community Foundation Saint Louis Integrated Health Network Saint Louis University SSM St. Louis County St. Louis Economic Development Partnership St. Louis Public Schools St. Louis Public Schools Elected Board of Education St. Louis Public Schools Foundation St. Louis Regional Health Commission St. Louis Regional Systems of Care The SPOT at Jennings High School United Way University City School District Washington University in St. Louis Wyman |
Demand for SBHCs is quite strong throughout the St. Louis region. However, thorough evaluation of district, school building, provider, and community capacity needs to be considered prior to opening a SBHC. As evidenced in the currently operational centers across the country, financial sustainability can be a challenge. Thoughtful analysis and business planning must be conducted in order to ensure that SBHCs achieve their intended outcomes and become lasting interventions within schools.
We are currently drafting a Request for Proposals (RFP) process to help schools identify the best partners for SBHC implementation, outline roles, and plan for the multiple components of opening an evidence-based, financially sustainable SBHC.
We anticipate that we will soon make a formal announcement of one, possibility two, new SBHCs opening in area high schools next school year. We are excited about the significant collaboration on the part of several institutions and organizations to improve student health and well-being, and we are looking forward to the positive impact this will have on student health and academic achievement.
