Social Determinants of health as defined by the World Health Organization are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources at global, national, and local levels. During the 2020 Community Health Assessment, Rockingham County identified education, a social determinant, to be a top health concern among residents.
The level of educational attainment is increasingly being recognized as an important social determinant of health. Education can increase the capacity for better decision making regarding one's health, and can also increase social and personal resources that are vital to mental health. While we recognize the importance of education as an important social determinant of health, we realize that we are not solely experts in this area. As a result, we rely on our community partners to assist us when targeting education as a top health priority here in Rockingham County, and created the Education Workgroup in order to work in collaboration with one another.
Mission: To provide resources and interventions that decrease barriers to education for all children in Rockingham County.
The Education Workgroup will focus on the following initiative to help move toward their goals.
- Support the WiseGuys Program
- Support College Advisors and their work within the high schools
- Support the Gear Up efforts in Rockingham County Schools
- Support the efforts of the STRIVE Initiative
- Develop tutoring and mentoring programs within the county.