Social mobility refers to the shift in an individual’s social status from one status to another. The shift can either be higher, lower, inter-generational, or intra-generational, and it cannot necessarily be determined if the change is for good or bad.

vertical mobility

Meritocracy (merit, from Latin mereō, and -cracy, from Ancient Greek κράτος kratos ‘strength, power’) is a political system in which economic goods and/or political power are vested in individual people on the basis of talent, effort, and achievement, rather than wealth or social class.

It is well known that health disparities result from the “upstream” social determinants of health, such as living and working conditions that are in turn influenced by economic opportunity, public policy, and political choices.

Education And Early Childhood. Improving access to high-quality education likely improves health. Early childhood interventions, such as early childhood education and parental support programs, have positive health impacts and help address economic disadvantage and health disparities.

Health disparities are differences in health outcomes and their causes among groups of people. Reducing health disparities is a major goal of public health. Achieving health equity, eliminating disparities, and improving the health of all U.S. population groups is one of the goals ofHealthy People 2020 .

Here are three areas of focus:

• Create linkages to non-health community providers that address social determinants and support prevention and wellness.
• Make the services family centered, as well as patient centered and culturally competent.
• Engage community members as leaders.

Health disparities result from lack of caring within the society. Central to nursing, caring makes the profession best suited for leadership in reducing disparities. Nursing is losing its capacity for caring. Nursing’s progress in gaining status has alienated it from the needs of other oppressed groups.

Five Ways to Make Health Equity a Core Strategy

1. Make health equity a leader-driven priority.
2. Develop structures and processes that support equity.
3. Take specific actions that address the social determinants of health.
4. Confront institutional racism within the organization.
5. Partner with community organizations.