Gun violence is a health care issue; it’s “a leading cause of premature death in the U.S.,” according to the American Public Health Association. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes firearm violence as having a “tremendous impact on America’s overall safety and wellbeing,” recommending a “public health approach” to mitigate its effect. It’s…
“Social determinants of health are stressors that relate to physical health.” So says Dr. Meredith Shockley-Smith, Executive Director of Cradle Cincinnati, Field Service Assistant Professor at UC Medical Center, and Founder of Queens Village. “And chronic, prolonged stress just magnifies [health] problems.” Consistent access to nutritious food, affordable and suitable housing, and transportation are just…
What happens when you know you will face at least some form of trauma every day of your life? How do you cope? There are many types of trauma including acute, complex, generational, and chronic trauma. Acute trauma is the kind associated with one big event, like a home invasion or a car accident. But…
One of the most powerful tools in substance use disorder recovery is self-care. And it works equally well for those on both sides of the equation: the people who are in recovery and their loved ones. Kellen Hicks, Drug and Alcohol Counselor, MS, LICDCCS, Cincy Pride Counseling, says self-care can help those affected by substance…
The phrase “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” currently means being able to do something by yourself. No matter your circumstances, this phrase implies, you should be able to achieve wealth and success. Often, the phrase is wielded at people who live in poverty. The blame game The phrase “pull yourself up by your bootstraps”…
More than 8,000 children in Cincinnati experience homelessness each year. The average person—person, not just child—experiencing homelessness is nine years old. UpSpring, a local nonprofit aiming to break the cycle of poverty, fights these challenges. Lack of stability and consistency affects education Children experiencing homelessness suffer from lack of stability. “They may switch schools two…
Every parent wants their child to have a better life than they did. They want them to be more successful, wealthier, healthier, and happier. But that doesn’t always happen. If you have experienced poverty as a child, you are “much more likely to be poor in early and middle adulthood than are those who were…
What would your day look like if you didn’t have a car? Look up the bus schedule and route to get to work. Does a 15-minute drive turn into a journey of an hour or more? Notice how time waiting for the bus isn’t necessarily factored into the planning. What if the bus doesn’t come…
More than twenty percent of Cincinnatians do not own a car. City Council member Mark Jeffreys believes that walkable streets in Cincinnati are “not just about safety but tied to so many other issues. It’s an area of equity.” If it seems to you that pedestrian safety has become an increasingly urgent issue in the…
Getting to appointments can be the hardest part of staying current with medical care for Kia Davis’ clients. Davis is a Community Health Worker (CHW), who cares for pregnant mothers and children through Mercy Health. Mercy Health is a partner agency of the Southwest Ohio Pathways Community HUB, which Health Care Access Now directs. Davis…
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