SES: Wealth Equals Health Station

Activity 1: Equality v. Equity

Activity 2: Defining SES What is Socioeconomic Status? http://www.apa.org/topics/socioeconomic-status/ Socioeconomic status is the social standing or class of an individual or group. It is often measured as a combination of education, income and occupation. Examinations of socioeconomic status often reveal inequities in access to resources, plus issues related to privilege, power and control.

Activity 3: Wealth Equals Health? Discuss with your group – do you think the following statement is true or false: “WEALTH EQUALS HEALTH” Why?

Activity 4: One Woman’s Healthcare Journey After watching the video, discuss with your group the next questions. Themselves A. How does transportation affect access to care? B. How does having SMS improve your access to healthcare? C. How does having poor access to healthcare due to poverty affect the way a patient perceives their diagnosis? Their Community A. Individually: list factors discussed in this video that resonate with you. B. Do you think that the counties that neighbor Wyandotte County experience some of these same challenges? Which ones? Why? Video: When Getting a Blood Pressure Cuff Takes all Day (6:32) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6wH4nQVmhw

Activity 5: Community Examples A city has 3 times more park space per resident in its north part than in its south part. Access to computers and to the internet is not the same in all schools in the city. A city is having financial problems and has made a decision to cut its budget for its 25 community centers. Specifically, it cuts the budget by having the same reduction in closing hours for all centers. A community with lower income and a higher percentage of people of color compared to the rest of the city has the highest air pollution levels and the highest asthma hospitalization rates in the city. A meeting has been planned to discuss the cleanup of a contaminated site in a community; it will be held in English. However, approximately 25% of people in the community do not speak English as a first language. One community has less access to healthy and affordable food than the rest of the city and has requested funding and assistance to build a community garden. The City has recognized that there is an issue of historically unequal treatment in this neighborhood and has agreed to the request. Community Examples – Analyze CHOOSE one example to answer the next questions. Does the situation described seem fair? How is it unjust? What are some things that could be done to make it more just (equitable?)

Activity 6: Brainstorm Project Ideas What community project could address socioeconomic status as a social determinant of health?