Supporting Communities to Support Families
Health, as defined by the World Health
Organization, is a state of complete physical,
social and mental well-being, and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity. We start with
this definition because it is broad. Many people,
communities, and agencies can imagine where
they fit within this definition. This definition
allows for our conversations about young
children, families, and communities to be
comprehensive in nature and not simply focused
on one outcome or another.1
Health is created in the community through social, economic and environmental factors2 as
well as individual behaviors and biology. Research has shown that negative impacts on health –
caused by social, economic, and environmental factors – are significant drivers for how families
and communities are able to provide for and relate to their children.
The fundamental conditions and resources for health are: peace, shelter, education, food,
income, a stable eco-system, sustainable resources, social justice, and equity.3
When these factors are missing from a community, opportunities for individual health are
limited: community and parent/caregiver stress increases and relationships between
community members decrease which negatively influences child development.
When communities are supported in promoting social inclusion and relationship building,
communities are able to identify meaningful solutions that work for them. How policy decisions
are made is as important as what policy decisions are made. Communities coming together to support
pregnant and parenting families and making choices about their own healthy futures is a fundamental
strategy to improve equity. These gatherings build community relationships which contribute to
community resilience which contributes to the success of pregnant and parenting families with young
children.
1
Minnesota Department of Health. (2014). Advancing Health Equity in Minnesota: Report to the
Legislature. http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/healthequity/ahe_leg_report_020414.pdf
2
Tarlov, AR. Public policy frameworks for improving population health. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1999;896:281-93
The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986, p. 1.
http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/Milestones_Health_Promotion_05022010.pdf
3
1