Issues & Ideas

Here we offer resources, gathered from local and national sources, on topics and system-change approaches related to the social determinants of health and improving community well-being. We hope you leave inspired to try new strategies and to build new partnerships to advance your efforts.

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Search articles, research, websites, and case studies we’ve compiled.

Report

The Economic Realities of Communities of Color in Iowa

View The Economic Realities of Communities of Color in Iowa
Report

Economic Burden of Health Inequities in the U.S.

View Economic Burden of Health Inequities in the U.S.
Report

2023 County Health Rankings National Findings Report

View 2023 County Health Rankings National Findings Report
Article

Graphic on Equality vs. Equity

View Graphic on Equality vs. Equity
Article

Q&A: REED partners share the power in holding space for rest, healing, collective learning

View Q&A: REED partners share the power in holding space for rest, healing, collective learning
Report

2021 Community Health Needs Assessment

View 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment
White Paper

The Link Between Stillbirth & Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: Firsthand Accounts from American Women

View The Link Between Stillbirth & Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: Firsthand Accounts from American Women
Website

Communicating about Health Equity

View Communicating about Health Equity
White Paper

Strengths of Latinx Immigrants Despite Legal Violence

View Strengths of Latinx Immigrants Despite Legal Violence
Article

Why building community power is vital for philanthropy

View Why building community power is vital for philanthropy
Report

Surgeon General's Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health

View Surgeon General's Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health
Report

A Caring, Connected Community: How Greater Des Moines nonprofits met our needs during the pandemic

View A Caring, Connected Community: How Greater Des Moines nonprofits met our needs during the pandemic
Report

The Intersection of Racial Injustice and Youth Health in Central Iowa

View The Intersection of Racial Injustice and Youth Health in Central Iowa
Report

Champions for Change: A Collective Commitment to Children's Health

View Champions for Change: A Collective Commitment to Children's Health
Report

Why aren't kids a policy priority?

View Why aren't kids a policy priority?
Article

Study: Impact of neighborhood disadvantage on a child’s brain

View Study: Impact of neighborhood disadvantage on a child’s brain
Website

The United States Prosperity Index 2021

View The United States Prosperity Index 2021
Website

Make It Okay messaging in multiple languages

View Make It Okay messaging in multiple languages
Article

8 Ways People of Color are Tokenized in Nonprofits

View 8 Ways People of Color are Tokenized in Nonprofits
Article

Building a Trust-Based Philanthropy to Shift Power Back to Communities

View Building a Trust-Based Philanthropy to Shift Power Back to Communities
Guide

Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap

View Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap
Website

Frameworks Institute: Changing the conversation on social issues

View Frameworks Institute: Changing the conversation on social issues
Website

Framing best practices with Topos Partnership

View Framing best practices with Topos Partnership
Report

Systems Change & Deep Equity

View Systems Change & Deep Equity
Website

Iowa Coalition for Collective Change

View Iowa Coalition for Collective Change
Website

Iowa Public Health Association

View Iowa Public Health Association
Report

Cultivating Change: How the HealthConnect Fellowship lifted a network of advocates to improve children's health in central Iowa

View Cultivating Change: How the HealthConnect Fellowship lifted a network of advocates to improve children's health in central Iowa
Report

Shifting the Lens: How The ACE Study sparked action to collectively improve our community's health

View Shifting the Lens: How The ACE Study sparked action to collectively improve our community's health
Website

National Academy of Medicine

View National Academy of Medicine
Website

Grant Makers in Health

View Grant Makers in Health
Guide

Results-Based Accountability Implementation Guide

View Results-Based Accountability Implementation Guide
Website

Healthy People 2030

View Healthy People 2030
Website

ACEs Connection

View ACEs Connection
White Paper

Understanding the Upstream Social Determinants of Health

View Understanding the Upstream Social Determinants of Health
Report

Addressing Patients' Social Needs: An Emerging Business Case for Provider Investment

View Addressing Patients' Social Needs: An Emerging Business Case for Provider Investment
Report

Innovations in Health Equity and Health Philanthropy

View Innovations in Health Equity and Health Philanthropy
Website

Centers for Disease Control

View Centers for Disease Control
White Paper

Prenatal Strategies to Support Families

View Prenatal Strategies to Support Families
Report

United Way Community Impact Report

View United Way Community Impact Report
Report

1st Five Healthy Mental Development Initiative 2020 Report

View 1st Five Healthy Mental Development Initiative 2020 Report
Report

2020 One Economy: The Blueprint for Action

View 2020 One Economy: The Blueprint for Action
Report

Human Trafficking Awareness for Youth

View Human Trafficking Awareness for Youth
Report

Mental and Sexual Health Education for Youth

View Mental and Sexual Health Education for Youth
Policy Brief

Strengthening Medicaid

View Strengthening Medicaid
Website

Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program

View Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program
Website

CAMHI4Kids Children's Mental Health System

View CAMHI4Kids Children's Mental Health System
Policy Brief

Transforming Iowa's Foster Care System to Support Kinship Caregiving

View Transforming Iowa's Foster Care System to Support Kinship Caregiving
Website

Community Catalyst System of Advocacy

View Community Catalyst System of Advocacy
Report

The Water of Systems Change

View The Water of Systems Change
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Foundation Learning

We value taking time to reflect on what we learn from initiatives and to share insights with our community. Below are Foundation-sponsored reports.

Report

A Caring, Connected Community: How Greater Des Moines nonprofits met our needs during the pandemic

This report features nearly $1 million in investments the Disaster Recovery Fund made over the 18 months to support nonprofits’ work during the pandemic.

View resource
Report

Champions for Change: A Collective Commitment to Children's Health

This report shares outcomes and lessons learned from the HealthConnect Fellowship initiative from October 2019-June 2021

View resource
Report

Cultivating Change: How the HealthConnect Fellowship lifted a network of advocates to improve children's health in central Iowa

This report shares how Mid-Iowa Health Foundation created the HealthConnect fellowship, lessons learned in the process, and stories about each fellow's journey in advocating for system changes.

View resource
Report

Shifting the Lens: How The ACE Study sparked action to collectively improve our community's health

This report shares how The ACE Study transformed Mid-Iowa Health Foundation's and its partners' work and the changes created in central Iowa organizations and systems over a decade to respond to the study's findings.

View resource

Creating Connections to Learn Together

By listening to our community, we can better understand the unique challenges central Iowans face and reimagine how we foster thriving communities. The HealthConnect Blog is a platform for many voices to be a part of the solutions we elevate.

View Blog

Creating a Culture of Inclusivity

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How Community Health Workers Can Improve Heart Health

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How Medical-Legal Partnerships Can Link Systems to Improve Health Outcomes

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Creating a Culture of Sustainability in Helping Professions

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Meet Dr. Daniel Zinnel, Incoming Mid-Iowa Health Foundation Board Member

Foundation news
Aug 2, 2023
View Post

Using Data for Systems-Level Advocacy

Advocacy
Jul 28, 2023
View Post

7 Benefits of a Statewide System Approach to Community Health Work

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Why I Advocate for Heart Disease Preventive Strategies

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4 Ways to Center Youth in Mental Health Conversations

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Economic Burden of Health Inequities: 5 Insights to Inform Action

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Disability Rights Attorney Shares What Iowans Should Know About Medicaid

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Health Equity Work in Action: What Funders Should Know

Funder practices
Apr 5, 2023
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Basic Income: 4 Things to Know

Partnerships
Apr 4, 2023
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Prioritizing Advocacy: How a Nonprofit Created a Full-Time Role

Advocacy
Feb 1, 2023
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Meet the team leading UpLift – The Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot

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HealthConnect Fellows: Engaging authentically in systems change

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7 insights gained through a nonprofit merger

Foundation grants
Nov 17, 2022
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Six Elements to Consider with Community Conversations

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Community-Based Participatory Research: What to Know

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How student research informed the basic income project

Action planning
Sep 20, 2022
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Investing in Meaningful Change

As we learn with our community, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation is challenged to reflect on our role in addressing health challenges. We offer some articles that are inspiring our current practices as a funder.

Funding Practices