Why Addressing the Social Determinants of Health Requires Social Workers

Social determinants of health (SDOH) like poverty, housing, education, and systemic inequality directly impact a person’s well-being. To solve these, we need more than just doctors—we need social workers. They assess community needs, provide access to resources, and advocate for change that truly addresses root causes.

Excerpt of Why Addressing the Social Determinants of Health Requires Social Workers

The key factors influencing people’s health go far beyond hospitals and clinics. Issues like unstable housing, lack of nutritious food, unemployment, and racial disparities are all part of the social determinants of health. Healthcare providers can treat the symptoms, but they can’t solve these deeply rooted social problems alone. That’s where social workers step in. With their unique training, they assess psychosocial risks, connect individuals to vital resources, and lead policy reform efforts. Their work is crucial in shifting health outcomes at the individual and population levels.

Role of Social Workers in Addressing SDOH

• Identify and assess individual and community-level social risks
• Provide resource navigation like housing, food, and employment assistance
• Advocate for policies addressing inequality and healthcare access
• Collaborate with healthcare teams for holistic patient care
• Educate communities on rights, support systems, and health options

Healthcare systems focus heavily on diagnosing and treating illness, but they often overlook what causes people to get sick in the first place. Social conditions—like where people live, work, and go to school—can impact health more than medical interventions. These are the social determinants of health, and they shape everything from chronic illness rates to life expectancy. Addressing these issues requires more than clinics and prescriptions. It requires professionals trained to understand and solve social problems. That’s where social workers come in. They bring a unique skill set rooted in advocacy, empathy, and systems thinking. This article explores why healthcare alone can’t close the health gap and why social workers must lead the charge.

1. Understanding the Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health (SDOH) include economic stability, education access, neighborhood safety, and access to nutritious food. These factors directly influence a person’s ability to maintain good health. For example, individuals living in low-income areas may experience higher stress levels, poor air quality, or inadequate housing. These elements often lead to chronic illnesses or mental health struggles. Even with excellent healthcare, people stuck in unhealthy environments will continue to face serious health risks. Doctors can prescribe medications, but they can’t solve housing shortages or systemic poverty. That’s where social workers, with their focus on social justice and resource navigation, become essential.

2. Why Healthcare Providers Can’t Do It Alone

Medical professionals do an excellent job treating diseases, but most don’t have the training to address the root social causes of illness. They can tell a patient to manage diabetes through proper diet, but what if that person lives in a food desert? This is where social workers step in. Their ability to connect patients to community resources, secure housing, and advocate for education or job support makes them crucial to health outcomes. Earning a dual MSW degree gives professionals an added advantage, allowing them to bridge clinical knowledge with policy and social services expertise. These graduates become powerful agents of change in both hospital systems and community outreach programs.

3. The Role of Social Workers in Patient Advocacy

Social workers serve as liaisons between patients and systems that often fail them. When a patient lacks insurance or struggles with transportation, it’s the social worker who steps in to remove these obstacles. They advocate for clients who may not have the language skills, education, or confidence to navigate complex healthcare bureaucracy. Their training equips them to ask hard questions and push for fair treatment. They don’t just identify barriers; they remove them. In doing so, they empower patients to take control of their health journeys. This level of advocacy plays a critical role in improving outcomes and promoting equity.

4. Building Trust Within Underserved Communities

Many underserved communities harbor deep mistrust toward medical institutions. This mistrust often stems from historical exploitation, language barriers, or lack of cultural sensitivity. Social workers play a critical role in rebuilding that trust. Unlike clinicians who may see patients for a few minutes per visit, social workers engage with clients more deeply and regularly. They understand cultural nuances and know how to communicate without judgment. They also come from diverse backgrounds, which allows them to relate to the populations they serve. Trust-building takes time and consistency, two things social workers bring into every interaction.

5. Connecting Clients to Vital Resources

Knowing where to turn during a crisis isn’t always obvious. Many patients leave hospitals with treatment plans they can’t follow because they lack stable housing, food, or childcare. Social workers know how to link clients to those essential services. They act as connectors—coordinating with food banks, shelters, educational programs, and employment agencies. Their goal is to create a stable foundation so that health improvements can actually stick. When a client receives both medical treatment and life support resources, the chances of recovery and long-term wellness increase dramatically. It’s this combination that makes their role indispensable in any healthcare setting.

6. Addressing Mental Health Through Social Support

Mental health and physical health go hand in hand, but many healthcare systems fail to treat them as equally important. Social workers understand that untreated mental health conditions can worsen physical illnesses and vice versa. They provide essential emotional support and therapeutic interventions that help patients cope with stress, anxiety, trauma, or depression. Whether through individual counseling or group therapy sessions, social workers create safe spaces for people to express themselves and heal. They also recognize when mental health concerns stem from environmental stressors like domestic violence or job loss and respond with both care and action. Their presence ensures a more holistic approach to healing.

7. Combatting Health Inequities at the Policy Level

While many social workers serve individuals and families directly, others work to reshape the systems that create health disparities. These professionals influence local and national policies that govern housing, education, employment, and public health. They analyze data, meet with lawmakers, and advocate for laws that promote equity and fairness. Their training allows them to translate individual stories into powerful arguments for change. For example, a social worker might use their clients’ experiences to push for Medicaid expansion or more funding for mental health services. This policy work creates long-term change that lifts entire communities, not just individual patients.

8. Promoting Health Literacy in Marginalized Groups

Understanding how to manage a medical condition requires clear, accessible information, but many patients struggle with health literacy. Medical jargon, low reading levels, and cultural differences often create confusion and fear. Social workers step in as educators. They break down complex information into understandable terms and explain treatment options in a way that empowers patients rather than overwhelms them. They also recognize cultural and linguistic barriers, offering tailored guidance that respects each person’s background. When people understand their health conditions and how to manage them, they become active participants in their own care. That leads to better outcomes and stronger communities.

Improving health outcomes takes more than hospitals and prescriptions. It requires addressing the root causes that drive illness, many of which exist far outside exam rooms. Social workers understand these challenges because they live at the intersection of health and humanity. They don’t just treat symptoms; they tackle the circumstances causing them. From mental health support to policy reform, social workers offer practical, compassionate solutions. A stronger healthcare system isn’t built on medicine alone—it’s built on partnership, trust, and equity. And social workers make that possible. If we want real progress, we must make them central to the solution.

What is the role of social workers in addressing social determinants of health?

Social workers help individuals overcome social barriers like poverty and housing instability that directly affect their health. They link clients to community resources, advocate for services, and influence health equity policies.

How do social workers improve healthcare access?

By identifying at-risk populations and removing social and financial barriers, social workers improve healthcare access. They help with transportation, housing, and insurance support—key social determinants of health.

Why is social work essential in public health strategy?

Public health strategies need social workers to tackle issues like homelessness, food insecurity, and education gaps. Their interventions improve long-term outcomes and reduce healthcare disparities.

How do social workers support SDOH in underserved communities?

In underserved areas, social workers provide hands-on assistance with essential services, educate on rights and support programs, and push for systemic change to address root causes of poor health.