The Healthy People Nashville project includes collaboration with 36 partners who will apply unique community-driven health innovations in historically marginalized communities in Nashville, Tenn. These innovations were developed to increase the use of preventive health services and address food insecurity and access to prenatal care. Grant funding will specifically address two social determinates of health (SDOH) domains identified as high priorities objectives in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ recent Healthy People 2030 report: 1) economic stability and 2) health care access and quality. Project activities are based on data and promising practices and will focus on these two SDOH with the goal of driving action toward two leading health indicators: 1) reducing household food insecurity and hunger and 2) increasing the proportion of pregnant women who receive early and adequate prenatal care.
The lead applicant, Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, manages federal housing programs in Nashville and serves 30,000 individuals, of which 10,723 residents live in MDHA properties and are the expected participants of project activities. These residents face multiple SDOH from community risk factors (e.g., poverty, unemployment and safety) that are based on a person’s economic and social conditions and play a key role in determining health outcomes and economic success in life. Project activities include outreach, training, food and resource distribution events and community baby showers. These activities were developed by and will be implemented in collaboration with residents, staff and 36 collaborative partners including Meharry Medical College who will evaluate activities.
Estimated number of people to be served as a result of the award of this grant: 10,723