Social drivers of health (SDoH)

SDoH are the social factors that affect children and families both positively and negatively. They include things like socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, social support networks, and access to health care. The SDoH encompass both protective factors (such as family relationships and support, childcare, parental well-being) and risk factors (such as racism, poverty, food/housing insecurity, substance use, intimate partner violence). The SDoH have a major impact on health outcomes, especially for families experiencing barriers or fewer resources. 

For a list of commonly used SDoH assessments, see the STAR Center Screening Tool Finder.