Breaking Through on the Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities An approach to message translation

Background

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) convened the Commission to Build a Healthier America (2008-2009) to explore why some Americans are so much healthier than others and why America is not the healthiest country in the world. The vision was to impanel a diverse, multi-sector, nonpartisan Commission of leaders to investigate the issues and identify solutions, outside of the health care system, to improve the health of all Americans. Inherent in this approach was increasing awareness and involvement of leaders outside of public health and health care—leaders who were likely to be somewhat unfamiliar with “social determinants.” PDF