Part Four of the State of Southwest Baltimore Series will focus on another social driver of health – economic stability.Economic Stability is the ability to consistently meet basic financial needs, which includes having stable employment and sufficient income for baseline needs. Economic insecurity often leads to stress and declined mental health conditions, as well as limited access to health-promoting resources, contributing to poorer health outcomes.
Baltimore’s unemployment rate continues to decrease from 8.5% in 2020 to only 2.9% in 2023. The City of Baltimore is also currently experiencing unprecedented levels of economic growth, with its GDP increasing 5.9% between 2021 and 2022. The city’s economy is even growing faster than the U.S. economy and the Maryland economy, which are growing at by 1.9% and 1.6%, respectively.
Catholic Charities provides workforce development training and employment services to those who are un-and under-employed. In 2023, Catholic Charities’ programs delivered workforce development training to 322 individuals, with 224 finding employment thereafter. The Mayor’s Office of Employment Development ‘Job Hub’ located inside My Brother’s Keeper helps connect job seekers to employment on the ground in Irvington.
As a member of the Southwest Workforce Roundtable, Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital is a frequent participant at community job fairs and supports local youth-serving entrepreneurial projects.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines social drivers of health, also known as the social determinants of health, as the “conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.”
The State of Southwest Baltimore Series aims to examine the presence of the six social drivers of health in Southwest Baltimore and how local community organizations are helping create healthier communities.
