Project Abstract
The Erie County Health Department is applying for the CDC’s Closing the Gap with Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Accelerator Plans program to address the health disparities faced by residents within our community. The Erie County Health Department (ECHD) is a co-applicant with the Erie County Community Health Center (ECCHC), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). This project will serve Erie County, Ohio, a HRSA-designated fully rural county. Sandusky, the largest city in Erie County, has a population of approximately 25,000 residents with the following racial composition: 69% white or Caucasian, 23% black or African-American, and 6% of two or more races. Sandusky residents experience poverty at a rate of 23%, which is significantly higher than County (12.4%) and State (14%) averages (U.S. Census). The USDA classifies Sandusky city as Low Income. In addition to high rates of poverty, Sandusky residents experience a 13% rate of disability for individuals under the age of 65, which is significantly higher than County (9.5%) and State (10%) averages. Of the more than 11,000 households located in Sandusky, more than 13.6% do not own a vehicle, which further hampers their access to healthy foods, activity centers, and health care providers. The Erie County Health Department has identified four census tracts with a Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) of 0.75 or greater. Communities in census tracts 407, 409, 410, and 411 in the city of Sandusky will be targeted by the SDOH Accelerator Plan. The four identified census tracts make up a total population of 14,199 residents, with 5,032 of those residents being minority individuals. While only 17% of Erie County residents are part of the minority community, 35.4% of the high SVI selected community residents are minorities. Additionally, 2,727 individuals in these communities are below the poverty level with an average income of $21,689.
The ECHD will utilize the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) framework to develop and adopt a multisector action plan that addresses the social determinants of health. The MAPP method is an evidence-based, interactive, community-driven strategic planning process that helps communities apply strategic thinking to prioritize public health needs and to identify the resources needed to address them. Our agency and community partners will address each of the five SDOH priority areas with a strong focus on Community Clinical Linkages and Social Connectedness by accelerating action in the Erie County, Ohio community that leads to improved chronic disease outcomes among persons experiencing health disparities and inequities, particularly those most affected by poverty, income inequity, and lack of economic resources.