My objective is to first inform ourselves about the reality that exists in terms of inequality in education and then take action to address the community's problem.
. Health issue
a. " health is also determined in part by access to social and economic opportunities; the resources and supports available in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities; the quality of our schooling; the safety of our workplaces; the sanitation of our water, food, and air; and the nature of our social interactions and relationships. The conditions in which we live explain in part why some Americans are healthier than others and why Americans more generally are not as healthy as they could be."
Social Determinants of Health | Healthy People 2020. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-of-health
b. According to Ballotpedia, Wicomico County underperformed in comparison to Maryland in terms of higher education achievement from 2009–2013. The United States Census Bureau found that 26.3 percent of county residents aged 25 and older had attained a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to 36.8 percent of state residents. The median household income for Wicomico County was $51,092 compared to $73,538 for Maryland. The percentage of county residents below the poverty level was 17.0 percent, while it was 9.8 percent for state residents.
Wicomico County Public Schools, Maryland - Ballotpedia. https://ballotpedia.org/Wicomico_County_Public_Schools,_Maryland
c. In minorities and poor communities, we can see how the lack of education affects health. There is no equality in distributing resources in the school system. Children learn the basics of self-care in school, but now problems such as stress, depression, and anxiety in children and adolescents are escalating. Here at Wicomico county, we can see how children are entering high school from elementary and middle schools that do not have the necessary resources with a significant disadvantage in learning than those who have studied in schools with more resources.
II. SDoH perspective in your community
Educated persons are less likely to be hypertensive or to suffer from emphysema or diabetes. And physical and mental functioning is as well better for the more educated. The better educated are substantially less likely to report that they are in poor health and less likely to report anxiety or depression.
Healthy People 2020 Approach to Social Determinants of Health
A “place-based” organizing framework, reflecting five (5) key areas of social determinants of health (SDOH), was developed by Healthy People 2020.
These five key areas (determinants) include:
Economic Stability
Education
Social and Community Context
Health and Health Care
Neighborhood and Built Environment
Poor Health That Affects Education -Reverse Connection
We need to be aware that poor health results from lower educational attainment and can also cause educational setbacks and interfere with schooling.
III. Social justice implications in your community
Initiatives have been suggested, to address these health disparities are
-Make funding schools a priority.
-Address the school-to-prison pipeline.
- Put classroom-running and curriculum-building decisions in the hands of the community.
Students in poorly-funded schools don't have the technology, new books, or art and music programs that create a well-rounded education, while students in affluent areas have the latest academic resources, school counselors, librarians, and more to help them succeed
IV. Action recommendations
As soon as the county, the department of education, and the community reach an agreement on the equitable distribution of resources for the schools: regardless of the area where the most tax is collected or the wealthiest areas, it will be possible to have greater equality in the education of children thus creating educated and healthy adults.
