Moving Upstream: Working Together to Create Healthier Communities

A statewide policy forum on social determinants of health

On November 13, 2006, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation hosted a statewide policy forum on social determinants of health — “Moving upstream: Working together to create healthier communities.” Minnesota leaders in health, housing, early childhood development, environment, government, nonprofit and philanthropy gathered to discuss how these different sectors can work together to improve community health. Nationally acclaimed speakers shared research and ideas for focusing efforts “upstream,” on social, economic and environmental factors that influence health.

The day provided good starting points for ongoing discussion and productive collaboration, and set the stage for defining plans and policies that will place Minnesota on a course to becoming the healthiest state in the nation for all its citizens.

See the forum on Twin Cities Public Television

To broaden the reach of our policy forum, the Foundation partnered with Twin Cities Public Television to tape the program for broadcast on Minnesota Channel 17. Air dates will be announced. In addition to TPT Channel 17, the programs will air via cable and digital TV to subscribers through Time-Warner, Comcast and MediaCam.

The first program, “Moving Upstream: Working Together,” features a panel discussion with the forum’s full faculty, moderated by former Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm. The second program features the Upstream Health Leadership Award presentation by Blue Cross CEO and Foundation Board Chair Mark W. Banks, M.D. to Native American environmental activist Winona LaDuke and the White Earth Land Recovery Project. The programs were also made available to 363 PBS affiliates nationwide via satellite uplink.

How to get a copy of the forum’s proceedings

You may either download the forum’s full proceedings from this site, or order a DVD of the forum with a copy of the proceedings.

» view the proceedings (PDF)
» order the DVD and the proceedings

The forum at a glance

Below is a listing of speakers at the forum, along with a copy of their presentation and a link to their web site.

20^th anniversary keynote address

“Paddling Upstream: Contributions of social determinants to population health”
Ichiro Kawachi, MD, PhD
Director, Harvard School of Public Health’s Center for Society and Health

» view presentation (PDF)
» visit speaker’s web site

Synergies and synthesis: Learning from cross-sectoral research

“Understanding the long-term impact of early childhood experience”
Martha Farrell Erickson, PhD
Director, Irving B. Harris Training Programs Center for Early Education and Development, University of Minnesota

» view presentation (PDF)
» visit speaker’s web site

“Moving upstream: Social determinants of health”
Ted Schettler, MD, MPH
Director, Science and Environmental Health Network, Ames, IA

» view presentation (PDF)
» visit speaker’s web site

“Brick by brick: Building the links between housing and healthy communities”
David E. Jacobs, PhD, CIH
Research Director, National Center for Healthy Housing, Columbia, MD

» view presentation (PDF)
» visit speaker’s web site

“Moving upstream: Naming and addressing the impacts of racism on health”
Camara Phyllis Jones, MD, MPH, PhD
Research Director on Social Determinants of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta

» view presentation, part 1 (PDF)
» view presentation, part 2 (PDF)
» visit speaker’s web site

Upstream Health Leadership Award

Presentation of inaugural upstream health leadership award to Native American Environmental Activist Winona LaDuke by Blue Cross CEO Mark W. Banks, MD, and Chair of the Blue Cross Foundation board

» visit speaker’s web site
» read news release

The national perspective: Models and tools from across the country

“Moving upstream together: Strategies to address social determinants of health”
Pamela Thornton, PhD
Senior Research Associate, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies’ Health Policy Institute, Washington, D.C.

» view presentation (PDF)
» visit speaker’s web site

“Healthy homes and early learning: Addressing social determinants of health in Seattle and King County”
Jim Krieger, MD, MPH
Chief Epidemiologist, Seattle/King County Department of Public Health

» view presentation (PDF)
» visit speaker’s web site

“Health impact assessment: A tool for mobilizing research and understanding about the upstream determinants of health”
Brian L. Cole, DrPH
Project Manager, Health Impact Assessment Group, University of California Los Angeles

» view presentation (PDF)
» visit speaker’s web site

Setting the course for policy change

“Healthier communities — what will it take?”
Jan Malcolm
CEO, Courage Center, Minneapolis

» view presentation (PDF)
» visit speaker’s web site