When we look at our community’s health, there are many other factors beyond health care services that determine a person’s ability to thrive. Social determinants of health are defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as the conditions in places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect outcomes for health and quality of life. A few examples include income and employment opportunities, housing instability, food insecurity, family and social support, transportation, and
adverse life effects.

Studies show that if assistance and support in these categories are provided by a community then each community member’s health and wellness is positively impacted. Lake Tahoe, like many rural communities, faces challenges within these categories, especially housing instability and food insecurity.

Housing instability is the situation of having difficulty paying rent, spending more than half of household income on housing, having to move frequently, living in overcrowded conditions or needing to cohabitate with friends and family. Food insecurity is commonly defined as the lack of consistent access for everyone in a household to have enough high-quality food for an active, healthy life. These determinants combined can have a dramatic impact on other social determinants of health and adversely affect the health of all age groups.

Barton Health conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment every three years to identify unmet health needs in our community. This data along with understanding the social determinants of health provide a broader picture of the issues faced by residents in the Lake Tahoe region. This allows us to collaborate and align with the many valuable partners and organizations in our community addressing these issues.

Food insecurity has been a regional challenge before the pandemic, but this type of unanticipated event compounds the effect, especially on those populations that are most vulnerable. Barton’s team from The Attic Thrift Store worked alongside local partners like Bread & Broth and Christmas Cheer All Year to safely supply those in need with food, clothes, and essential household items throughout last summer. We then partnered with Whole Foods and through their food donation program, we created a food distribution network to provide high-quality food to those who needed it in real time. This network initially included local pantries, and then expanded to include local faith-based organizations and the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless. As Barton Foundation was also supporting this effort through raising funds through generous donations for families and individuals in need of support, we combined our efforts to be able to distribute food cards purchased through the Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund to grant applicants at The Attic Thrift Store. The goal is to assist in the fight against food insecurity, while providing essential goods and household items to community members in need.

Chris Proctor, MPT, MBA, is the Director of Community Benefit at Barton Health.