This report summarizes publicly available reports (as of May 2024) on each component of the social determinants of health, Connecticut's rural communities, and UConn regional campus locations—using UConn Health’s social determinants of health as a framework. The report is a high-level overview of several recent, robust reports and tools related to the social determinants of health, which are available for public use and are linked in this report.
The reports and tools used are listed at the bottom of this page. References were chosen by for their recency, completeness of data, and public accessibility.
This report was generated by Dylan Boczar and Bianca Montrosse-Moorhead from The Partnership for Evaluation & Educational Research (PEER) on behalf of the University of Connecticut Office of Outreach and Engagement.
Economic Stability: What do the reports say?
The rising cost of basic necessities in Connecticut, such as housing and utilities, continues to outpace income growth, particularly following the expiration of enhanced federal tax benefits (Connecticut ALICE Report, 2023). This growing disparity between income and living expenses exacerbates financial strain on households, making it increasingly difficult for individuals to meet their basic needs and maintain a stable standard of living.
Underprivileged groups face significant economic challenges that directly impact health disparities. Systemic issues such as unemployment and housing instability are key contributors to poor health outcomes. Unstable employment and the lack of secure housing lead to chronic stress and reduced access to essential health services, perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage and ill health (Health Equity in Connecticut, 2023).
Financial assistance programs for education in the healthcare sector are being implemented to mitigate the economic burden on healthcare workers and promote their professional development. These initiatives aim to support healthcare workers financially, enabling them to pursue further education and career advancement, thereby reducing their economic stress and improving job satisfaction and retention (Healthcare Cabinet Report, 2023).
Neighborhood &
Physical Environment: What do the reports say?
There are notable disparities in life expectancy and health outcomes based on geographic locations. Lower-income and minority communities face poorer housing conditions and higher exposure to environmental pollutants, which contribute to health problems such as asthma (Health Equity in Connecticut, 2023).
Urban and rural areas exhibit significant differences in health status, influenced by factors such as access, economic opportunities, and environmental quality (Healthcare Cabinet Report, 2023). Urban areas face higher rates of poverty, violence, and health issues including COVID-19, Chronic kidney and heart disease, and overdose, while rural areas have relatively lower access to healthcare facilities (Health Equity in Connecticut, 2023).
Housing costs constitute a major portion of the monthly survival budget for Connecticut residents, with significant disparities based on household size and location. More populated or desirable areas have higher housing costs, exacerbating economic burdens for families, particularly those with lower incomes (Connecticut ALICE Report, 2023).
Connecticut communities with higher rates of poverty and unemployment often experience greater food insecurity, impacting overall community health and well-being (Map the Meal Gap, 2022).
Education: What do the reports say?
Lack of education limits access to crucial health information and reduces economic opportunities, which in turn influence lifestyle choices and access to healthcare services (Health Equity in Connecticut, 2023).
High child-care costs significantly impact families' financial stability, especially those with young children. These costs constitute a substantial part of the survival budget for Connecticut residents, often hindering parents' ability to pursue further education or training. Consequently, this limitation affects their long-term economic prospects and access to better health resources (Connecticut ALICE Report, 2023).
Efforts to bridge educational gaps within the healthcare sector are evident in initiatives like CT Health Horizons and Connecticut Career ConneCT. These programs aim to create educational pathways, offer training, and provide financial support to individuals pursuing careers in healthcare. Such initiatives enhance the healthcare workforce and support equitable access to quality health services (Healthcare Cabinet Report, 2023).
Social and Community Context:
What Do Published
Reports Say?
Communities differ greatly in overall community satisfaction, but residents of some cities and towns in Connecticut show low confidence that their local governments are responsive to residents' needs (DataHaven Town Equity Reports, 2023).
Gun violence significantly impacts both mental and physical health, especially in urban areas of Connecticut. The fear and trauma associated with violence contribute to a range of mental health issues, as well as worsened educational outcomes and overall lower community well-being (Health Equity in Connecticut, 2023). Urban areas in Connecticut show up to 42% of adults fearing gun violence, although even in urban areas gun-related mortality is lower than the national average.
Enhanced support and protection for gender-affirming care are crucial for the well-being of the LGBTQIA+ community. Improved educational resources and provider support are recommended by the Healthcare Cabinet Report (2023) to better serve this community's unique healthcare needs.
Community organizations and public policy play vital roles in addressing food insecurity in Connecticut. Effective strategies involve coordinated efforts between local entities and policymakers to ensure access to nutritious food for vulnerable populations (Map the Meal Gap, 2022).
Food:
What Do Published
Reports Say?
While Connecticut overall is close to the US average on food security rates, Black and Latino populations experience higher rates of food insecurity compared to white populations, influenced by structural inequities and socioeconomic disadvantages (Map the Meal Gap, 2022).
Additionally, rural counties in the South face higher food insecurity rates than urban areas, highlighting significant differences in access. The expiration of COVID-era support programs places renewed emphasis on the need for targeted interventions to address these persistent racial and geographic disparities.
These disparities are exacerbated by economic barriers (particularly in urban settings; Health Equity in Connecticut, 2023) and lack of affordable access to healthy food (Healthcare Cabinet Report, 2023).
Food expenses constitute a substantial portion of monthly costs for families and single adults, influenced by local prices and access to affordable nutrition (Connecticut ALICE Report, 2023). Efforts to improve access to nutritious food are critical components of broader strategies addressing social determinants of health.
Healthcare System:
What Do Published
Reports Say?
The Datahaven Health Equity in Connecticut report (2023) shows a steep increase in healthcare expenses post-COVID, driven by global economic shifts and regional cost differentials, with Connecticut as one of the most expensive states for healthcare. 10% of residents lack health insurance.
The Connecticut ALICE Report (2023) corroborates the ongoing burden of healthcare costs on families, especially after the cessation of temporary federal aid, emphasizing the substantial portion of a family's survival budget dedicated to healthcare.
Escalation in costs has increased existing disparities, particularly affecting Black and Latino populations and residents of urban areas like Hartford and New Haven. Discrimination in healthcare settings and high costs are noted as major contributors to these access disparities (Health Equity in Connecticut, 2023).
The Healthcare Cabinet Report (2023) calls for improvements in workforce sustainability and the reduction of burnout among health workers. The report also highlights a pressing need to address shortages of key professionals such as nurses and mental health providers, which are anticipated to impact healthcare delivery and quality, particularly considering increased demand and pressures of the post-pandemic landscape.
Rural Communities
What Do Published
Reports Say?
Source: Rural Health in Connecticut (2022)
Economic Disparities are prevalent among Type I towns, which show high rates of financial insecurity and poverty, particularly for residents of color.
Food Insecurity is prevalent in Type I Towns, indicating difficulties in accessing/affording nutritious and sufficient food.
Healthcare Access has significant barriers in Type I and II, including longer travel times to medical facilities and fewer healthcare providers, affecting timely and adequate medical care.
Historical Inequalities that affect employment, housing, and education opportunities vary by town, and are systemically reinforced.
Ethnicity Demographics in UConn Campus Communities
United States Census, 2020
This graphic helps contextualize the city/town-level reports’ findings within the overall trends that Black and Latino residents experience poorer social determinants of health across many categories. For example, on page 15, the significant economic disparities in Economic Stability faced by Black and Latino residents is situated in the context that most residents of Hartford are either Black or Latino (as identified by the US census).
Groton (Avery Point):
What Do Published
Reports Say?
Source: Groton 2023 Equity Profile (2023)
Health Care System: Health insurance coverage is the state average. Preventive care usage is relatively high. Significantly worse health outcomes for residents of color.
Economic Stability: The median household income in Groton is slightly lower than the state median. The town has a 3% unemployment rate, lower than the peak pandemic rates. Significant gaps in income between white households and households of color.
Neighborhood and Physical Environment: Half of households in Groton are homeowners, with notable disparities across racial groups. One in three households in Groton are cost-burdened by housing expenses. Half of all adults report having essential services within walking distance, and 76% feel their neighborhoods are walkable. Environmental risks affect lower-income and minority populations more severely, with poorer areas suffering more from pollution and lack of amenities.
Education: 86% of high school seniors graduated on time in 2021. 39% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, with significant variation among racial groups.
Social and Community Context: Most adults report being satisfied with their area, yet only half feel their local government is responsive.
Civic engagement shows only half of voters turned out in the 2022 state election.
Crime rates and community cohesion measures vary, with some neighborhoods experiencing high rates of reported crimes.
Food: Higher rates of SNAP (food stamps) usage among Black and Latino households, suggesting disparities in accessing nutritious and affordable food.
Hartford:
What Do Published
Reports Say?
Hartford 2023 Equity Profile (2023)
Health Care System: Black and Latino residents are less likely to have health insurance than their white counterparts. Access to preventive care is varied, and there are disparities in the prevalence of chronic diseases and health outcomes, including life expectancy, which is lower in Hartford compared to state averages.
Economic Stability: Hartford shows significant economic disparities with a high poverty rate and low median household income, particularly among Black and Latino communities. Employment opportunities are heavily concentrated in certain sectors like Health Care and Social Assistance, which also reflect racial and ethnic disparities in wages and job distribution.
Neighborhood and Physical Environment: Housing issues such as high rates of cost-burdened households, overcrowding, and low homeownership rates are prevalent, especially among minorities. Environmental challenges include exposure to pollutants and limited access to recreational spaces, although there is a high level of walkability in urban areas.
Education: Educational attainment in Hartford is notably lower than state averages, with significant disparities in graduation rates and academic performance for Black and Latino students, who also face higher rates of disciplinary actions.
Social and Community Context: Community cohesion and civic engagement are areas of concern, with many residents expressing dissatisfaction with local government responsiveness. Voter turnout is low, and there are disparities in perceptions of community support and trust.
Food: Higher rates of SNAP (food stamps) usage among Black and Latino households, suggesting disparities in accessing nutritious and affordable food.
Mansfield (Storrs):
What Do Published
Reports Say?
Mansfield 2023 Equity Profile (2023)
Health Care System: Health insurance coverage is the state average. Preventive care usage is relatively high. The average life expectancy is slightly higher than the state average.
Economic Stability: The median household income is roughly half the state median, with 26% of residents living below the poverty level. Black and Latino households have lower median incomes compared to white households.
Neighborhood and Physical Environment: 50% of households are homeowners. Housing cost burden affects 49% of households, with 66% of renter households being cost-burdened. Black and Latino households are more likely to be cost-burdened by housing.
Roughly half of residents 45% report having stores, banks, and other locations within walking distance, as well as safe sidewalks and crosswalks in their neighborhood.
Education: 58% of adults in Mansfield have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Only 4% lack a high school diploma. Local school districts have a high graduation rate of 93% for high school seniors.
Social and Community Context: 89% of adults in Mansfield are satisfied with their area, and the majority feel the local government is responsive to residents' needs. There is a strong sense of community cohesion, with residents actively participating in local governance and community activities.
Food: Higher rates of SNAP (food stamps) usage among Black and Latino households, suggesting disparities in accessing nutritious and affordable food.
Stamford:
What Do Published
Reports Say?
Source: Stamford 2023 Equity Profile (2023)
Health Care System: Health insurance coverage disparities are evident, with higher uninsured rates among Black and Latino populations. There is greater incidence of chronic diseases, lower rates of health insurance coverage, and higher mortality rates from drug overdoses among people of color.
Economic Stability: Stamford's median household income is $99,791, notably higher than the state average of $83,572. Black and Latino households experience significantly higher rates of poverty.
Neighborhood and Physical Environment: Housing cost burden affects 43% of households, with a higher impact on renters (half) compared to homeowners (one-third). Overcrowding is more prevalent among Latino and Asian households.
Environmental justice concerns include higher exposure to pollutants in lower-income neighborhoods, often inhabited by people of color.
Education: 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The school district shows lower educational attainment and higher disciplinary actions in schools among Black and Latino students. 11% of adults lack a high school diploma, higher than the statewide rate of 9%.
Social and Community Context: Community cohesion is high, and 87% of surveyed adults express satisfaction with their area.
Trust in local government is lower than the state average, with only half the residents finding the local government responsive to their needs. Voter turnout was 80% in the 2020 presidential election but dropped to 52% in the 2022 state election.
Food: Higher rates of SNAP (food stamps) usage among Black and Latino households, suggesting disparities in accessing nutritious and affordable food.
Waterbury:
What Do Published
Reports Say?
Health Care System: Waterbury's average life expectancy is 5% lower than the state average. 16% of adults aged 18-64 in Waterbury lack health insurance, compared to 10% statewide, with relatively poor rates of dental preventative care. Black and Latino residents have higher prevalence of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
Economic Stability: The median household income in Waterbury is nearly half the state median, with 22% of residents below the poverty line, twice the state rate. Waterbury also has a higher unemployment rate compared to the state average (5% compared to 3.2%).
Neighborhood and Physical Environment: 43% of Waterbury households are cost-burdened, and 17% lack a personal vehicle. Roughly half of households own their homes, with significant disparities among racial groups. Many neighborhoods in Waterbury face higher exposure to environmental hazards.
Education: 19% of adults aged 25 and over lack a high school diploma, nearly double the state average of 9%. Black and Latino K-12 students experience worse academic attainment and disciplinary outcomes.
Social and Community Context: 63% of adults are satisfied with their area, but only 30% feel their local government is responsive.
However, relatively high levels of community cohesion are reported, with 66% having stores and services within walking distance.
Food: 28% of Waterbury households receive SNAP (food stamps), several times the state average, with higher rates among Black and Latino households. Disparities in access to nutritious food are linked to economic instability and transportation issues.
Black, Latino, and low-income adults face greater than average barriers to good health and healthcare
SHARE OF ADULTS, 2021 (From a larger graphic in DataHaven’s Health Equity in Connecticut , 2023)
This graphic showcases the three major types of disparities shown by recent reports on social determinants of health in Connecticut: ethnic, economic, and geographical. Black and Latino residents tend to have higher-than-average Economic insecurity (or are “Just getting by”) and Food insecurity, as well as worse experiences with Healthcare System treatment (such as discrimination or lower frequency of necessary or sustaining care). The same is true of residents with low income. Finally, the same metrics for the largest three cities situated by UConn campuses are shown, with Hartford worse-than-average in most metrics and Waterbury displaying higher Economic insecurity and lower maintenance healthcare.
References
The reports and tools that follow are those that were used and summarized in this report. References were chosen by for their recency, completeness of data, and public accessibility.
Each report or tool is listed with:
Title of the Report (Publication Year)
-
- The provider of the material (the organization that compiled the data and wrote the report)
- A short summary of the report's focus and content.
- A link to the material (all publically-available).
In addition, the graphic on the following page shows a heat map of all cited reports along the UConn Health social determinants of health categories, which can serve as a quick reference for which reports discuss which topics.
Heatmap of Social Determinants of Health Discussed by Publicly Available Reports
This graphic can serve as a quick-reference for which report/tool mentioned in this report discusses which social determinants of health.
Reports & Tools Summarized
Health Equity in Connecticut (2023)
-
- Provider: CTDataHaven
- Report disaggregates data from numerous collected, state, and federal sources. Examines health disparities across Connecticut, focusing on various social determinants of health and their impacts on different populations within the state. The report highlights the profound public health, social, and economic effects that have arisen from structural inequalities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Link to Access Report
2023 Town Equity Profiles (2023)
-
- Provider: CTDataHaven
- Reports disaggregate town-level data from numerous collected, state, and federal sources, with a focus on community wellbeing and racial equity. Situates local data within the broader Connecticut context.
- Link to Access Reports
2024 Heathcare Cabinet Report (2024)
-
- Provider: Connecticut State Comptroller
- Report discussing the ongoing challenges and strategic initiatives in healthcare across the state, with a strong focus on improving healthcare access, affordability, and quality, particularly post the COVID-19 pandemic. The report emphasizes Connecticut's need for a robust healthcare workforce and the disparity in healthcare access among different population groups, including urban and rural communities, children, women, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Link to Access Report
Map the Meal Gap (2022)
-
- Provider: Feeding American
- Reports and an interactive map tool detailing food insecurity and food costs in counties and districts across the US (including Connecticut). Highlights the variations in food insecurity rates, particularly how these rates declined nationally in 2021 due to continued public and private efforts to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the overall improvement, significant disparities persist across different regions and demographic groups.
- Link to Access Tool
- Link to Access Report
Connecticut ALICE Report (2023)
-
- Provider: United Way
- Provides data on the economic challenges faced by the state's residents from 2021 data projections. Highlights financial struggle (39% of Connecticut households live below the ALICE Threshold, earning above the Federal Poverty Level but below the basic cost of living), particularly after the expiration of federal benefits. Includes reports of local data, an ALICE toolkit, and interactive simulations and maps.
- Link to Access Reports and Tools
Rural Health in Connecticut (2022)
-
- Providers: Connecticut Office of Rural Health, CTDataHaven
- Report on the health status and impact of health-related social needs in rural towns of Connecticut. Employs a novel approach to categorize these towns into three types based on demographic attributes and compares their health metrics to the state average. Highlights disparities in health outcomes due to social and financial challenges.
- Link to Access Report
Additional Tools
Data on housing and affordability for each of CT's 169 towns and cities (2022)
-
- Provider: Partnership for Strong Communities
- Interactive web-based data profiles for towns, counties, and the state. Housing data includes general affordability statistics, breakdowns of housing units by occupancy, age, gross rent, heating/fuel, population demographics, and 2-1-1 calls.
- Link to Access Tool
CT Environmental Justice Screening Tool (2022)
-
- Provider: Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA)
- Interactive tool for viewing Environmental Justice challenges and needs. Includes an interactive filterable map, data hub, and instructional video for how to best use the available tools.
- Link to Access Tool
Existing Outreach and Engagement
Relation to Report
This report was prepared for the UConn Office of Outreach and Engagement as part of their broader work connecting with and enabling community outreach across Connecticut. Other related projects include their ongoing inventory for a UConn Outreach Database, and their development as a centralized hub for UConn outreach and engagement.
Outreach Database
Outreach and Engagement is working to create a centralized database of outreach and engagement efforts at UConn. The Office is currently collecting information about ongoing outreach and engagement projects led by the UConn community.
Add your own outreach or engagement efforts to the database:
Centralized Hub
This outreach database will be used to foster broader participation and make more public the work that is already being done within UConn.
The database is being tested by UConn members, and eventually will be open to the public (expected Fall 2024), with the goal that those both within and outside UConn can use this database as a hub to find collaborators and potential partners for their work.
Resources may also be hosted on this hub—modeled similar to this report—as a stepping-stone for those participating in outreach to connect to relevant research, data, and tools.
Methods
Who is PEER? What were they asked to do?
Bianca Montrosse-Moorhead (Director) and Dylan Boczar from UConn’s Partnership for Evaluation and Educational Research (PEER) lab were asked to report on community needs in Connecticut for the UConn Office of Outreach and Engagement.
How did PEER select social determinants of health as a focus?
PEER hosted listening sessions on community needs for each UConn campus location, as well as for Extension and several all-campuses sessions.
Feedback from these sessions was packaged and synthesized by PEER, and reviewed by a team of advisors. After careful consideration, Social Determinants of Health was decided on as the focal area for further reporting.
What role did the working group play?
A volunteer committee from UConn outreach roles and outside organizations (e.g. CT Foodshare, Sustainable CT) was recruited as a working group, who assisted monthly in suggesting data sources, determining which data would be most useful, and planning the form and content of the report.
Originally, two additional open advisory sessions were planned. However, the first session was not attended, and the decision was made to focus on synthesis of the reports, acknowledging that UConn Outreach and Engagement intends to supplement with further community feedback.
What did the review of existing reports (data) look like?
The working group determined that the report should be an overview of robust findings and tools using very recent data, for two audiences: academic readers (as a stepping-stone to the data/reports) and community organizers (pointing them in the right direction for needs-based data and tools).
Reports were reviewed for high-level findings, mindful of Outreach and Engagement’s plans to work as a hub for outreach efforts and resources.
The Partnership for Evaluation & Educational Research (PEER) is a program evaluation and research laboratory within the Neag School of Education at UConn. The lab is directed by Dr. Bianca Montrosse-Moorhead. https://www.partnership4eval.com/
The Neag School of Education stands out as a major contributor to instructional and research excellence at the University of Connecticut, one of the nation’s leading public higher education institutions. With academic departments dedicated to educational leadership, educational psychology, and curriculum and instruction, the Neag School also offers a five-year integrated bachelor’s/master’s program in teacher education and a one-year, post-baccalaureate teacher education program. According to the 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report rankings of Best Education Schools, the Neag School ranks among the top 25 public graduate schools of education in the nation.
Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation.