Social factors have a significant impact on health and well-being

This article was written for our sponsor, WellCare of NC

Social determinants of health are a complex set of factors, characterized as the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the way these conditions interact with each other. Some identified social determinants include economic stability, education, employment, environment, food security, housing, health care, and social and community context. Many of these factors can have a direct impact on health and well-being. In North Carolina, there are four main social determinants of health that impact Medicaid beneficiaries: access to food, housing, transportation, and interpersonal violence.

Access to Food: According to Hunger in America, 34 million people in the US struggle with access to food, of which 9 million are children. This is often due to a lack of money or resources. North Carolina has the 8th highest rate of food insecurity in the nation, according to FeedNC, with over 630,000 households going hungry each night. When families don't have enough food, children's health and development can be seriously impacted. They may experience problems such as anemia, poor mental health, and developmental delays.

Housing: Safe and affordable housing is essential for good health. Families who do not have access to safe and affordable housing must often resort to either staying in unsafe places, or must move often, exposing themselves and their children to illnesses and traumatic situations. Evidence has shown that this instability in housing can lead to many health problems, including mental health problems, respiratory infections, and injuries.

Transportation: Lack of transportation can be a barrier to good health care. It creates the obvious hurdles, including not being able to get to grocery stores to access healthy food options or not being able to get to a doctor’s office. Lack of transportation options can also lead to exposure to extreme temperatures for vulnerable populations.

Interpersonal Violence: Violence can have a negative impact on both physical and mental health. Victims of violence and those who witness violence within the home are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. They are also more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as substance abuse.

Many Medicaid beneficiaries in North Carolina struggle with many social determinant deficiencies and WellCare of NC wants them to know they are not alone. "A lot of our members can't focus on their health because their basic social needs are not being met," said Shaune Lancit, Director of Community Engagement. "With people in the community facing choices like ‘should I use my last $50 to see my doctor or feed my kids?’ They will probably use the last of what they have to address those basic needs," added Lancit.

To try and alleviate this problem, WellCare connects its members to social services using NC360. NC360 is a website that North Carolinians can use to identify social service programs in their area. "We feel it's important to take care of this social safety net in North Carolina, but a lot of [nonprofits] do not have the funding to maintain essential programs. We give them grants to expand and maintain communication at those levels," said Lancit.

WellCare also partners with local communities to provide access to food. In Lansing, for example, WellCare partnered with a local community organization to set up a mobile stand that provides fresh fruits and vegetables, which had been identified as a significant need in the area. "We have two teams that do this community-based work," said Lancit. "Our community relations team and our community advocacy team. In addition to giving our grants, our advocacy team also engages in grassroots mobilization. Looking at public health data, we can identify where communities are being hardest hit," said Lancit. "Our community advocacy team will then work to bring resources and fill those gaps."

With social determinants of health like food insecurity, lack of transportation, and exposure to violence affecting so many North Carolinians, organizations like WellCare of NC are working hard to address these issues. By connecting beneficiaries to social services and providing access to healthy food options, WellCare is helping to improve the health of North Carolinians so that they can live healthier and happier lives and focus on more than just fulfilling their basic needs.

This article was written for our sponsor, WellCare of NC