A Community Engaged Approach to the Development of the Social Determinants of Health Solutions Lab

Background: For the past decade, the concept of the Social Determinants of Health has become popularized in the Social and Health sciences. The ways that communities may need to internalize and adapt the concept of the SDOH specifically to inform local governmental decision making is understudied. We describe efforts to engage Flint/Genesee County residents utilizing a community engaged approach for the advancement of the SDOH. Objective: To describe the creation, organizing, and evolution of a multidisciplinary group of residents with a goal to create and advance an SDOH agenda in Flint/Genesee County, Michigan. Methods: A collaborative approach utilizing the Continuum of Community Engagement as a conceptual model and the Community Coalition Action Theory guided the formation and evolution of the SDOH Solutions Lab and the launch of its first community-wide Summit. Results/Lessons Learned: Five key lessons contributing to the success of the SDOH Solutions Lab included: 1) Community Engagement must be Demonstrative and not Performative. 2) Incorporate a Consensus Decision-Making Model. 3) Leverage Social Capital to utilize a Social Network approach. 4) Connect the SDOH domains to Systems. 5)Underscore the emphasis on Solutions in the SDOH-SL. Conclusion: SDOH are critical to the reduction and ultimate eradication of health disparities. Creating SDOH focused groups, initiatives, and events utilizing a community engaged approach is critical to building the governance, leadership and direction needed to establish a SDOH community agenda. Cross-disciplinary partnerships are essential to this work.