Thriving Communities: Addressing Social Determinants of Health

In this episode of the HIT Like A Girl podcast, host Joy Rios speaks with Becky Payne, President and CEO of the Rippel Foundation. Rippel's mission is to create a world where all people can thrive in all places with no exceptions, and they focus on exploring action learning cycles and supporting communities and hospital systems in addressing social determinants of health. Becky discusses Rippel's framework called the Vital Conditions for Health and Well-being, which brings together all the sectors in a community to address these determinants, including transportation, housing, economic engines, health, wellness, lifelong learning, employment, meaningful work, and wealth.

Joy and Becky also touch on the impact of climate change on health and well-being, including the recent storms and droughts on the California West Coast. Becky notes that investing in resilience and strength-building in communities is critical to quickening the cycle of responding to crises, and requires hard conversations about the legacies of injustice that have created disparities in well-being. Overall, the episode highlights the importance of looking beyond the healthcare system itself to address the broader factors that impact health and well-being.