The World Health Organization defines the social determinants of health as "the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life." These forces and systems include economic policies, development agendas, cultural and social norms, social policies, and political systems. In an era of pronounced human migration, changing demographics, and growing financial gaps between rich and poor, a fundamental understanding of how the conditions and circumstances in which individuals and populations exist affect mental and physical health is imperative. Educating health professionals about the social determinants of health generates awareness among those professionals about the potential root causes of ill health and the importance of addressing them in and with communities, contributing to more effective strategies for improving health and health care for underserved individuals, communities, and populations. Recently, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop to develop a high-level framework for such health professional education. A Framework for Educating Health Professionals to Address the Social Determinants of Health also puts forth a conceptual model for the framework's use with the goal of helping stakeholder groups envision ways in which organizations, education, and communities can come together to address health inequalities.

In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.

The anthrax incidents following the 9/11 terrorist attacks put the spotlight on the nation's public health agencies, placing it under an unprecedented scrutiny that added new dimensions to the complex issues considered in this report. The Future of the Public's Health in the 21st Century reaffirms the vision of Healthy People 2010, and outlines a systems approach to assuring the nation's health in practice, research, and policy. This approach focuses on joining the unique resources and perspectives of diverse sectors and entities and challenges these groups to work in a concerted, strategic way to promote and protect the public's health. Focusing on diverse partnerships as the framework for public health, the book discusses: The need for a shift from an individual to a population-based approach in practice, research, policy, and community engagement. The status of the governmental public health infrastructure and what needs to be improved, including its interface with the health care delivery system. The roles nongovernment actors, such as academia, business, local communities and the media can play in creating a healthy nation. Providing an accessible analysis, this book will be important to public health policy-makers and practitioners, business and community leaders, health advocates, educators and journalists.

"Globalization has unleashed new health threats, connecting societies in shared vulnerability to common challenges, including infectious disease, non-communicable disease, environmental pollution, injuries, and inequitable poverty. The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear the cataclysmic health threats of a rapidly globalizing world and the limitations of domestic law and policy in addressing economic, social, and political determinants of health. No country acting on its own can stem major health hazards that go well beyond national borders. Where national laws cannot reach threats beyond national borders, global law is necessary to promote health and justice. If globalization has presented global challenges to disease prevention and health promotion, global health law offers the promise of bridging national boundaries to promote health and reduce health inequities"--

Social justice is a matter of life and death. It affects the way people live, their consequent chance of illness, and their risk of premature death. We watch in wonder as life expectancy and good health continue to increase in parts of the world and in alarm as they fail to improve in others.

The World Health Organization defines the social determinants of health as "the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life." These forces and systems include economic policies, development agendas, cultural and social norms, social policies, and political systems. In an era of pronounced human migration, changing demographics, and growing financial gaps between rich and poor, a fundamental understanding of how the conditions and circumstances in which individuals and populations exist affect mental and physical health is imperative. Educating health professionals about the social determinants of health generates awareness among those professionals about the potential root causes of ill health and the importance of addressing them in and with communities, contributing to more effective strategies for improving health and health care for underserved individuals, communities, and populations. Recently, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop to develop a high-level framework for such health professional education. A Framework for Educating Health Professionals to Address the Social Determinants of Health also puts forth a conceptual model for the framework's use with the goal of helping stakeholder groups envision ways in which organizations, education, and communities can come together to address health inequalities.

Global Health Watch (GHW), now in its sixth edition, provides the definitive voice for an alternative discourse on health. It integrates rigorous analysis, alternative proposals and stories of struggles and change to present a compelling case for the imperative to work for a radical transformation of the way we approach actions and policies on health. It was conceived in 2003 as a collaborative effort by activists and academics from across the world, and is designed to question present policies on health and to propose alternatives Global Health Watch 6 (GHW6) has been coordinated by eight civil society organizations – the People's Health Movement, ALAMES, Health Poverty Action, Medico International, Third World Network, Medact, Sama and Viva Salud. With contributions from across the globe, GHW6 addresses key issues related to health systems and the range of social, economic, political and environmental determinants of health, locating decisions and choices that impact on health in the structure of global power relations and economic governance.

“This 4th edition is an invaluable resource for PHN educators, students, and practitioners. Authoritative and practical, this volume reflects the authors’ solid understanding of public health nursing practice today. The reality-based insights and much-needed guidance about population health and public health nursing place this book in the forefront of educational resources for public health and community health nursing educators.” – Marla E. Salmon, ScD, RN, FAAN Professor, Nursing and Global Health Affiliate Professor, Governance and Public Policy University of Washington Population-Based Public Health Clinical Manual: The Henry Street Model for Nurses has proven to be one of the most important public health texts for students and practitioners alike. Focused on developing evidence-based public health nursing practice in diverse settings, and built on the framework of the Henry Street Consortium’s 13 competencies for population-based, entry-level public health nursing, this new, full-color fourth edition is fully revised and updated to support readers’ exploration of the field of public health nursing and the unique responsibilities and challenges that come with being a public health nurse. TABLE OF CONTENTS Part I: Foundational Concepts for Public Health Nursing Practice Chapter 1: Introduction to Public Health Nursing Practice Chapter 2: Evidence-Based Public Health Nursing Practice Part II: Entry-Level Population-Based Public Health Nursing Competencies Chapter 3: COMPETENCY 1: Applies the Public Health Nursing Process to Individuals, Families, Communities, and Systems Chapter 4: COMPETENCY 2: Utilizes Basic Epidemiological Principles in Public Health Nursing Practice Chapter 5: COMPETENCY 3: Utilizes the Principles and Science of Environmental Health to Promote Safe and Sustainable Environments for Individuals, Families, Communities, and Systems Chapter 6: COMPETENCY 4: Practices Public Health Nursing Within the Auspices of the Nurse Practice Act Chapter 7: COMPETENCY 5: Works Within the Responsibility and Authority of the Governmental Public Health System Chapter 8: COMPETENCY 6: Utilizes Collaboration to Achieve Public Health Goals Chapter 9: COMPETENCY 7: Effectively Communicates With Individuals, Families, Communities, and Systems Chapter 10: COMPETENCY 8: Establishes and Maintains Caring Relationships With Individuals, Families, Communities, and Systems Chapter 11: COMPETENCY 9: Incorporates Mental, Physical, Emotional, Social, Spiritual, and Environmental Aspects of Health Into Assessment, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation Chapter 12: COMPETENCY 10: Demonstrates Nonjudgmental and Unconditional Acceptance of People Different From Self Chapter 13: COMPETENCY 11: Shows Evidence of Commitment to Social Justice, the Greater Good, Reducing Racial and Health Disparities, and Increasing Health Equity Chapter 14: COMPETENCY 12: Demonstrates Leadership in Public Health Nursing Practices With Individuals and Families, Communities, and Systems Chapter 15: COMPETENCY 13: Promotes, Assesses, and Coordinates Population Health at the Individual, Family, Community, and Systems Levels of Practice to Create Healthier Individuals, Families, Populations, and Communities Chapter 16: Putting It All Together: What It Means to Be a Public Health Nurse Part III: Appendices Appendix A: Entry-Level Population-Based Public Health Nursing (PHN) Competencies for the New Graduate or Novice Public Health Nurse Appendix B: Omaha System Appendix C: Chapter 15 Population Health Exemplar Appendix D: Spotlight: Population Health Appendix E: Spotlight: Population Health Outreach ABOUT THE AUTHORS Patricia M. Schoon, DNP, MPH, RN, PHN, is a tenured Associate Professor at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is a founding member of the Henry Street Consortium and has taught nursing and public health for almost 50 years. Carolyn M. Porta, PhD, MPH, RN, PHN, SANE-A, FAAN, FNAP, is an Associate Vice President for Clinical Affairs at the University of Minnesota and a tenured Professor in the School of Nursing. She holds adjunct faculty appointments in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota, the Kaohsiung Medical University School of Nursing, and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education School of Nursing.