Changing Tides: Screening for Social Determinants of Health in Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Communities

Change InSight is an information clearinghouse for the nation's Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities as well as other underrepresented communities (e.g. immigrant communities, communities of color, racial minority groups, vulnerable populations, etc.). Change InSight leverages data to understand minority communities at a deeper level, empowering these communities by:Identifying and addressing the social risks and needs unique to AA and NHPI populations through targeted data collection infrastructure;Challenging misconceptions about the AA and NHPI populations using the collected data;Increase awareness of the shortfall in foundation funding for AA and NHPI organizations relative to these communities' population size and growth; andInforming decision-making at a broader scale through data-backed policy insights.This report shows how Change InSight is working to eliminate health and funding disparities for AA and NHPI communities. For far too long, the AA and NHPI communities have been categorized as a single entity (i.e. "Asians" or "Asian Americans"), leading to a critical lack of culturally-responsive interventions, solutions, and resources. To understand what these communities need, it's important to consider how environmental and personal conditions impact health outcomes. These conditions are known as social determinants of health (SDOH/SDH)2.From April 1st to June 24th, 2022, Change InSight partner agencies collected social determinants of health data from 2,244 AA and NHPI individuals. Findings from this sample were then compared with public narratives from multiple sources and supplemented by anecdotal evidence from all involved stakeholders. This new research initiative offers policymakers, nonprofit leaders, community health workers, philanthropic organizations, and civic centers a better understanding of their clients and constituents. This report is a product of a year-long collaboration by nonprofit leaders, providers, and community advocates seeking to identify, educate, and fund targeted social service solutions addressing the needs of AA and NHPI and other immigrant communities