Engaging Youth To Advance Community Health, Equity, And Safety

Striking differences by race and ethnicity in community health and public safety outcomes, with worrying implications for America’s youth, have been documented at the county and zip code levels. To address poor outcomes and disparities, philanthropic and public-sector attention has been increasingly directed toward building and sustaining healthy, safe, and equitable communities.

Funders seeking to improve community rather than individual outcomes are looking upstream to address social determinants of health and are focusing on the systems and structures that yield persistent inequities in health outcomes. Growing numbers of funders have adopted health equity as an explicit goal. Funders are also investing in gun violence prevention and in interventions that support community safety.

An inclusive conception of the health and safety outcomes that matter—for communities as well as individuals—calls for fresh thinking about the partners and tactics that can bring positive change.