Glossary of Terms

Coalition 

 A group of people who have pooled their resources and work together to advance their common interest in order to achieve a specific purpose.

 

Chronic Stress 

 High Demand + low control = chronic stress. People at the top certainly face pressure, but they are more likely to have the power and resources to manage those pressures. The lower in the pecking order we are, the greater our exposure to forces that can upset our lives—insecure and low paying jobs, uncontrolled debt, capricious supervisors, unreliable transportation, poor childcare, no health care, noisy and violent living conditions—and the less access we have to money, power, knowledge and social connections that can help us cope and gain control over those forces.

 

Community Based Participatory Approaches

Processes that equitably involve community members, organizational representatives, and research and health professionals in all aspects of program evaluation activities. CBPAs are used in communities to assess the social determinants of health, based on Socio-Ecological Models.

 

Contact Person

The individual who voluntarily agrees to serve as the liaison between the state and community for the purpose of convening an organizational meeting of the Coalition.

 

Dissemination

Broadcast of an idea or message on a large scale to make it reach a wide audience. (See Community Action Planning (CAP) section)

 

Evaluation

Analysis of completed or ongoing activities that determine or support accountability, effectiveness and efficiency of impact or outcomes.

 

Fiscal Agent

A non-profit organization that operates on behalf of and at the direction of the Coalition to carry out its financial responsibilities in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local requirements.

 

Health Disparities

Differences in the incidence and prevalence of health conditions and health status between groups based on:

• Race/Ethnicity
• Socio-economic Status
• Sexual Orientation
• Gender
• Disability Status
• Geographic Location
• Any combination of these

Health Equity

 

Distribution of disease, disability and death in such a way as to not create a disproportionate burden on one population.

 

Health Inequity

 

A difference in incidence or prevalence of a disease that is unnecessary, avoidable, unfair and unjust.

 

Institutionalization

 

The processes of making something become embedded within an organization, social system or society as in an established custom or norm.

 

Minority

 

Someone of one of the following racial and/or ethnic groups: Black; Hispanic; Native American, Asian and Pacific Islander.

 

Race

 

A category of humankind that shares certain distinctive physical traits.

 

Racism

A belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and those racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

 

SMART (objectives)

 

specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely. (see CAP section)

 

Social Determinants of Health

 

Life enhancing resources such as food supply, housing, economic and social relationships, transportation, education and healthcare, whose distribution across populations effectively determines length and quality of life. Economic and social conditions that influence health, factors in the social environment that contributes to or detract from the health of individuals and communities.

 

Social Justice

 

A concept based on ideas of fairness, equal distribution of resources, equality, and human rights.

 

Stress

 

Forces from the outside world impinging on the individual - Stress is a normal part of life that can help us learn and grow - Conversely, stress can cause us significant problems.

 

Sustainability

 

Using, developing and protecting resources at a rate and in a manner that enables people to meet their current needs and also provides that future generations can meet their own needs.

 

SWOT Analysis

 

Inventory of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This activity should be conducted periodically to determine program composition, effectiveness and efficiency.

 

Wealth-Health Gradient

 

A concept used to explain that one’s health is tied to their economic position. The more affluent one is, the lower the rate of disease. Accordingly, the lower one is on the scale of income, the higher the rate of poor health outcomes - the identification, selection and promotion of innovative lifestyles activities to help eliminate diabetes.