How Public Libraries Help Immigrants Adjust to Life in a New Country: A Review of the Literature

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110010
Author(s):  
Suzanne Grossman ◽  
Denise E. Agosto ◽  
Mark Winston ◽  
Rabbi Nancy E. Epstein ◽  
Carolyn C. Cannuscio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Social ◽  
Making Friends

Public library programs and services offer opportunities to help immigrants navigate daily life in unfamiliar surroundings and a new language. For example, language classes address the social determinants of health as they encourage social participation and community ties and help develop friendships. The purpose of this research was to conduct a narrative literature review to understand how immigrants use public libraries and how public library services influence the social determinants of health for immigrant populations. Keyword searches were conducted on five databases to identify research papers that met the inclusion criteria: empirical studies published in English between 2000 and 2020 related to immigrants’ use of public libraries. Thirty-one articles were included in the analysis. Thematic coding identified cross-cutting themes within the sample using the framework of the social-ecological model. Immigrants commonly use public libraries for programs (e.g., language learning), collections (e.g., borrowing books), and services (e.g., asking librarians questions). Immigrant patrons often reported satisfaction with library programs, services, and collections in the language of the host country. A frequent criticism was the relevance and accessibility of collections in their heritage language. In addition, library staff demographics often did not reflect those of immigrant patrons. Health-enhancing benefits associated with library use included increased confidence and self-esteem, cultural integration and preservation, trust and relationships (e.g., making friends), community awareness and engagement, and political integration. Future research and practice areas include collaboration between public health and library professionals to develop library programming that maximizes health and well-being among immigrants.

scholarly journals How can social enterprises impact health and well-being?

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 697-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katy Gordon ◽  
Juliette Wilson ◽  
Andrea Tonner ◽  
Eleanor Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of social enterprise on individual and community health and well-being. It focusses on community food initiatives, their impact on the social determinants of health and the influence of structure on their outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Using an interpretive qualitative approach through case studies focussed on two community food social enterprises, the research team conducted observations, interviews and ad hoc conversations. Findings Researchers found that social enterprises impacted all layers of the social determinants of health model but that there was greater impact on individual lifestyle factors and social and community networks. Impact at the higher socio-economic, cultural and environmental layer was more constrained. There was also evidence of the structural factors both enabling and constraining impact at all levels. Practical implications This study helps to facilitate understanding on the role of social enterprises as a key way for individuals and communities to work together to build their capabilities and resilience when facing health inequalities. Building upon previous work, it provides insight into the practices, limitations and challenges of those engaged in encouraging and supporting behavioural changes. Originality/value The paper contributes to a deeper insight of the use, motivation and understanding of social enterprise as an operating model by community food initiatives. It provides evidence of the impact of such social enterprises on the social determinants of health and uses structuration theory (Giddens, 1984) to explore how structure both influences and constrains the impact of these enterprises.

scholarly journals Double Burden of Rural Migration in Canada? Considering the Social Determinants of Health Related to Immigrant Settlement Outside the Cosmopolis

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asiya Patel ◽  
Jennifer Dean ◽  
Sara Edge ◽  
Kathi Wilson ◽  
Effat Ghassemi
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Rural Migration ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Double Burden ◽  
The Social

There is a large and growing body of research acknowledging the existence of health disparities between foreign-born and native-born populations in many high immigrant-receiving countries. Significant attention has been paid to the role of physical and social environments in the changing health status of immigrants over time. However, very limited attention has been given to these issues within the context of rural geographies, despite global evidence that immigrants are increasingly settling outside of traditional gateway cities and into rural communities. This paper presents the results of a scoping review aimed at assessing the state of knowledge on the health impacts of immigrant migration into rural communities in Canada. Guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping protocol, we conduct a review of academic literature in Canada related to rural migration. A total of 25 articles met inclusion criteria which included access to the social determinants of health. Findings identified a paucity of research directly connecting rural settlement to health but the literature did emphasize five distinct social determinants of health for rural residing immigrants: social inclusion, culturally-appropriate services, gender, employment, and housing. This paper concludes with an identification of research gaps and opportunities for future research into whether rural-residing immigrants face a double burden with respect to health inequity.

scholarly journals California Healthy Places Index: Frames Matter

2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (4) ◽  
pp. 354-362
Author(s):  
Neil Maizlish ◽  
Tracy Delaney ◽  
Helen Dowling ◽  
Derek A. Chapman ◽  
Roy Sabo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Census Tract ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Policy Action ◽  
Census Tracts ◽  
Life Expectancy At Birth ◽  
The Social

Introduction: We describe the California Healthy Places Index (HPI) and its performance relative to other indexes for measuring community well-being at the census-tract level. The HPI arose from a need identified by health departments and community organizations for an index rooted in the social determinants of health for place-based policy making and program targeting. The index was geographically granular, validated against life expectancy at birth, and linked to policy actions. Materials and Methods: Guided by literature, public health experts, and a positive asset frame, we developed a composite index of community well-being for California from publicly available census-tract data on place-based factors linked to health. The 25 HPI indicators spanned 8 domains; weights were derived from their empirical association with tract-level life expectancy using weighted quantile sums methods. Results: The HPI’s domains were aligned with the social determinants of health and policy action areas of economic resources, education, housing, transportation, clean environment, neighborhood conditions, social resources, and health care access. The overall HPI score was the sum of weighted domain scores, of which economy and education were highly influential (50% of total weights). The HPI was strongly associated with life expectancy at birth ( r = 0.58). Compared with the HPI, a pollution-oriented index did not capture one-third of the most disadvantaged quartile of census tracts (representing 3 million Californians). Overlap of the HPI’s most disadvantaged quartile of census tracts was greater for indexes of economic deprivation. We visualized the HPI percentile ranking as a web-based mapping tool that presented the HPI at multiple geographies and that linked indicators to an action-oriented policy guide. Practice Implications: The framing of indexes and specifications such as domain weighting have substantial consequences for prioritizing disadvantaged populations. The HPI provides a model for tools and new methods that help prioritize investments and identify multisectoral opportunities for policy action.

The Social Determinants of Health in a Community Context: Lessons for Sociological Practice

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-81
Author(s):  
Tim Knapp ◽  
Lisa Hall
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Context ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Sociological Practice ◽  
The Social

Much of the research on the social determinants of health has been done at national or international comparative levels. Findings from these studies highlight the importance of macro social factors that affect health outcomes, such as limited and unequal access to health care and the effects of racial discrimination, economic inequality, and patriarchy. However, such macro-level research provides limited information about how applied and clinical sociologists can address local social determinants of health and improve the well-being of individuals and community residents. Results from a county-level public health survey shed more specific light on how interpersonal networks, social activities, and neighborhood characteristics affect people’s physical and mental health. The results can be utilized by clinical and applied sociologists who counsel individuals and work to invigorate neighborhoods, and by public health officials who develop and reform community-level health policies and programs.

scholarly journals Addressing the Social Determinants of Health: A Call to Action for School Nurses

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 182-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krista Schroeder ◽  
Susan Kohl Malone ◽  
Ellen McCabe ◽  
Terri Lipman
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Well Being ◽  
School Nurses ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
School Based ◽  
The Social ◽  
Care Coordinators ◽  
Student Advocates

Social determinants of health (SDOH), the conditions in which children are born, grow, live, work or attend school, and age, impact child health and contribute to health disparities. School nurses must consider these factors as part of their clinical practice because they significantly and directly influence child well-being. We provide clinical guidance for addressing the SDOH when caring for children with three common health problems (obesity, insufficient sleep, and asthma). Given their unique role as school-based clinical experts, care coordinators, and student advocates, school nurses are well suited to serve as leaders in addressing SDOH.

The Evolving Idea of Social Responsibility in Bioethics

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHANNA AHOLA-LAUNONEN
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
The Social ◽  
Public Policy Decisions ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract:This article discusses the notion of social responsibility for personal health and well-being in bioethics. Although social responsibility is an intrinsic aspect of bioethics, and its role is increasingly recognized in certain areas, it can still be claimed that bioethics in general is committed to an individualistic theoretical framework that disregards the social context in which decisions, health, and well-being are situated. The philosophical premises of this framework regard individuals as rational decisionmakers who can be held accountable for their health conditions and who should be the primary objects of intervention in attempts to reduce lifestyle-associated chronic diseases. There are, however, social determinants of health that challenge this conclusion. Because their impact can be controlled, to a certain extent, by social and public policy decisions, their existence shows the inadequacy of the purely individualistic approach. I suggest, accordingly, that bioethics would benefit, both academically and societally, from a more social perspective. Bioethical studies that acknowledge, from the start, the social determinants of health would be more amenable to constructive multi- and interdisciplinarity, and a more balanced account of responsibility would further the contribution of sound bioethical work to sensible public policies.

scholarly journals Strengthening approaches to respond to the social and emotional well-being needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: the Cultural Pathways Program

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Brodie ◽  
Odette Pearson ◽  
Luke Cantley ◽  
Peita Cooper ◽  
Seth Westhead ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Torres Strait Islander People ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
The Social ◽  
Torres Strait

Abstract Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander holistic health represents the interconnection of social, emotional, spiritual and cultural factors on health and well-being. Social factors (education, employment, housing, transport, food and financial security) are internationally described and recognised as the social determinants of health. The social determinants of health are estimated to contribute to 34% of the overall burden of disease experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Primary health care services currently ‘do what it takes’ to address social and emotional well-being needs, including the social determinants of health, and require culturally relevant tools and processes for implementing coordinated and holistic responses. Drawing upon a research-setting pilot program, this manuscript outlines key elements encapsulating a strengths-based approach aimed at addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander holistic social and emotional well-being. The Cultural Pathways Program is a response to community identified needs, designed and led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and informed by holistic views of health. The program aims to identify holistic needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the starting point to act on the social determinants of health. Facilitators implement strengths-based practice to identify social and cultural needs (e.g. cultural and community connection, food and financial security, housing, mental health, transport), engage in a goal setting process and broker connections with social and health services. An integrated culturally appropriate clinical supervision model enhances delivery of the program through reflective practice and shared decision making. These embedded approaches enable continuous review and improvement from a program and participant perspective. A developmental evaluation underpins program implementation and the proposed culturally relevant elements could be further tailored for delivery within primary health care services as part of routine care to strengthen systematic identification and response to social and emotional well-being needs.

Addressing the Social Determinants of Health

2019 ◽  
Vol 101 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saty Satya-Murti ◽  
Jennifer Gutierrez
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Social Activism ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Community Center ◽  
Early Twentieth Century ◽  
The Social

The Los Angeles Plaza Community Center (PCC), an early twentieth-century Los Angeles community center and clinic, published El Mexicano, a quarterly newsletter, from 1913 to 1925. The newsletter’s reports reveal how the PCC combined walk-in medical visits with broader efforts to address the overall wellness of its attendees. Available records, some with occasional clinical details, reveal the general spectrum of illnesses treated over a twelve-year span. Placed in today’s context, the medical care given at this center was simple and minimal. The social support it provided, however, was multifaceted. The center’s caring extended beyond providing medical attention to helping with education, nutrition, employment, transportation, and moral support. Thus, the social determinants of health (SDH), a prominent concern of present-day public health, was a concept already realized and practiced by these early twentieth-century Los Angeles Plaza community leaders. Such practices, although not yet nominally identified as SDH, had their beginnings in the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century social activism movement aiming to mitigate the social ills and inequities of emerging industrial nations. The PCC was one of the pioneers in this effort. Its concerns and successes in this area were sophisticated enough to be comparable to our current intentions and aspirations.

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