An Innovative Approach to Address Social and Structural Determinants of Health through Housing

Expanding Jackson County Pathways to support housing-stable individuals with environmental health services

Full Project Name:An Innovative Approach to Address Social and Structural Determinants of Health through HousingPrimary Community Organization:Jackson County Public HealthPrimary Academic Partner:Leslie Ruffalo, PhD, MS, Family MedicineAward Amount:$250,000

Award Date

July2024

Project Duration:24 months

Project Summary:

Unsafe and inadequate housing conditions not only jeopardize physical health, but also exacerbate stress, trauma, and social inequities among residents.

This project will integrate the Pathways Community Hub model into Jackson County's Public Health Department to improve housing conditions and health outcomes. By pairing a community health worker (CHW) with the environmental health sanitarian (EHS), the project partners seek to address immediate housing issues, such as unsafe living conditions and health hazards, while also providing upstream support to prevent future challenges.

By enhancing collaboration between CHWs and EHSs, the project aims not only to mitigate housing-related health risks, but also to improve overall health outcomes for residents facing housing challenges.

Community partners: Great Rivers United Way, Servant Led Community Coalition, Black River Falls School District

Project Updates:

Hired and embedded a community health worker (CHW) in the Environmental Health Unit, which has already led to significant progress in improving housing stability and addressing other social determinants of health by completing over 50 one-on-one education sessions with clients
Implemented a housing-focused service model that marries Environmental Health and Community Health outreach, which allows the project team to address the root causes of housing insecurity, connect clients to valuable resources, and promote long-term health outcomes
Addressed 85% of all identified client needs using this improved model and ultimately helped folks obtain healthcare, food, housing, and transportation support
Collaborated extensively across departments and sectors to create working relationships with the ADRC, Child and Family Services, Jackson County Behavioral Health, Probation and Parole, Western Dairyland, and local law enforcement to enhance wraparound care and improve service delivery