In some ways, “social determinants” is just another way of saying something that should be obvious: that mental health and well-being is radically tied to place. The histories of places, and how physical space is configured, by whom and for whom, is something that has profound ramifications for mental health and well-being. In particular, access to the outdoors is a key social determinant of mental health. It is something that some must struggle to obtain while a fortunate few take it for granted. When the Hogg Foundation launched the Communities of Care initiative in 2018, the opportunity was taken o support a project, Healthy Outdoor Communities Initiative, that works to advance the equitable use of public parks and green space to improve mental health outcomes and quality of life for underserved children and families in the Houston area.

For this episode of Into the Fold, we caught up with Sheila Savannah, director of Prevention Institute, the organization that coordinates the Communities of Care initiative, and Kelly Burnett, activation and volunteer manager of Houston Parks Board, and coordinator of Healthy Outdoor Communities.

Related links:

Episode 119: The First Three Years

https://hogg.utexas.edu/podcast-children-in-2021