Promoting Better Health Beyond Health Care: State-Level Multi-Sector Actions for Addressing the Social, Economic, and Environmental Factors that Impact Health

This report from the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) explores state-level multi-sector actions for addressing the social, economic, and environmental factors that impact health.

National experts and state policymakers increasingly recognize that health outcomes are influenced not only by providing access to health care coverage and services, but also by state-level policies in non-health sectors, such as agriculture, education, and transportation, among others.

CHCS conducted a national exploration of state-level strategies to promote health beyond the traditional health care levers. Through review of published and gray literature, interviews with state officials and relevant subject matter experts, in-depth site visits, and a small group convening, CHCS aimed to answer key questions, including:

• What are the levers across state agencies that could be used to improve population health, either through specific policy action or by exerting state influence?
• What are examples of diverse state agencies working together and with other community partners to improve population health?
• What are the key factors necessary to promote effective cross-sector collaborations?
• What types of technical assistance and facilitation would increase states’ capacity to pursue and successfully implement these actions?
• How might state-level assistance be targeted to support and scale similar innovation?

Key takeaways from this exploration, are organized according to:

• Precursors, or foundational factors that help to prime the environment for state action.
• Catalysts that initiate and advance coordination among diverse state agencies.
• Success factors for effective implementation and ongoing collaboration.