Strong Roots SC

An illustrated tree depicting a roadmap to address social drivers of health, including roots labeled with aspects like strong communications, policy analysis, leadership, governance, and innovative shared goals, and branches with concepts such as sustainability, access, shared resources, health, and safety. The background highlights focus on health equity, community relationships, and learning from failure, with people tending to the tree and nurturing community.

Click on image to enlarge

What’s the story?

Strong Roots SC is a visual framework developed during Phase 1 to show what is required to move the needle on the non-medical factors impacting health across the state of South Carolina. The ecosystem of health in South Carolina includes organizations from the community, the private sector, state agencies, health systems, policymakers; and other stakeholders - all focused on the goal of improving health outcomes for South Carolinians through addressing the non-medical factors of health.

Watch the Story of the Illustration

Pamela S. Gillam, MPA, Director, Center for Applied Research and Evaluation, Arnold School of Public Health (CARE) Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, tells the story behind the development of the Strong Roots SC illustration.

The Parts of the Illustration
(and their meaning)

A diagram of a tree with branches labeled with terms like 'Advocacy,' 'Calculation,' 'Non-Military,' 'Training & TA,' 'Based on' and 'Funding,' illustrating different aspects or categories related to government or organization structure.

ROOTS 

The roots of the tree reflect the critical infrastructure required to change health outcomes at a state level. These include an orientation towards the shared mission of:
• addressing social drivers of health
• shared goals and measures for all parties involved
• start-up funding for pilot projects; innovation
• multi-sectoral partnerships
• inclusive governance
• rigorous policy analysis
• strong communication practices
• continuous improvement
• leadership and commitment to the work
• the continuous involvement of community voices 

The placement of each of these elements at the roots of the Strong Roots tree indicates that they were considered of foundational importance in the development of this visual framework. Each of these elements rose to the top in many conversations, and each is considered vitally important for the success of this work. 

A tree with green leaves and brown branches showing banners labeled 'Payment to CBOS,' 'Policy Change,' 'Streamline,' 'Sustainable,' and 'Access.'

BRANCHES 

The branches of the tree indicate another level of outcomes. On top of the root infrastructure and strong trunk of the tree, the branches illustrate key outputs that enable the fruit of belonging, health, safety, access, and quality of life to be enjoyed equitably by all. The branches include policy change, fair payment to community-based organizations, streamlined workflows, capacity of community-based organizations, coordinated care, shared resources, and sustainability. Each of these plays a key role in long-term outcomes and equitable impact. 

Tree with words related to advocacy and activism, surrounded by greenery and a person sitting on the grass.

TRUNK 

At the trunk of the tree are elements that will be produced by the joining of each of the root-level components. Advocacy, braided funding, closed referral feedback loops, evaluation, TA and training, value-based payment, sustainment of nontraditional workforce, and unified messaging are critical elements that will make the outcomes in the branches possible. 

A cartoon apple tree with red apples and green leaves, with labels including Q.O.L, C.B.C, and Y.

FRUIT 

The fruits of the tree represent the key impacts of this work on South Carolinians. The fruits include belonging, access, quality of life, health, and safety. Every South Carolinian should have equitable access to each of these outcomes - a thriving community enjoying the fruits of a just society. 

Illustration of three children sitting cross-legged in a circle, surrounded by leaves and plants, engaging in a relationship-building activity, with the text 'BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS' above them.

ECOSYSTEM & PEOPLE 

The tree is placed within a larger ecosystem, which represents the human stewardship that will be required to truly change the landscape of social drivers of health in South Carolina. Learning from failure, nurturing collaboration, trust, building relationships, and sharing best practices are critical to ensuring that the harvest of thriving communities will be shared equitably amongst all South Carolinians. The sun, representing health for all, is a warm and energizing presence for all work on social drivers of health across the state and is necessary for continued growth. With the involvement of community and the commitment of health sector leaders, the Strong Roots tree has the potential to create abundance and equity of health outcomes across the state.