Health happens everywhere
Social determinants of health are the everyday conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, connect, and age—and they often shape wellbeing before any clinical service begins.
Why it matters
The five widely used domains are economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context. In rural communities, distance, transportation, workforce shortages, and limited service options can intensify every domain.
Impact Wisconsin improves these conditions by connecting people with stable housing, peer relationships, care, education, transportation, resources, purpose, and belonging—while helping organizations redesign the systems that create repeated barriers.
The Common Roots Initiative extends that work into a community wellness ecosystem, connecting twelve organizations across seven counties from early childhood and prevention through health care, recovery, family support, education, and opportunity.
How the work takes shape
Housing, income, employment, food, education, transportation, health care, safety, discrimination, social cohesion, and civic connection are not side issues. They influence stress, opportunity, access, health risks, and the capacity to recover or remain well.
Recovery residences address housing stability. Peer coaching strengthens social connection and navigation. Training grows the local workforce. Harm reduction protects health. Listening sessions show where policies, practices, and service pathways need to change.
Through Common Roots, schools, health care, county systems, family supports, peers, recovery organizations, and workforce partners operate as a continuum. The goal is for any trusted doorway to connect a person with the wider network and the practical conditions wellbeing requires.
A place to begin