Rocha described the institute as a think tank that will take concrete action to address issues in low-income communities in the county, including housing and food insecurity and poor maternal health.

While the institute will work on so-called social determinants of health, Rocha called for a reconsideration of the moniker. When social determinants are reduced to the individual patient level, both patients and providers can think their health and healthcare choices are predetermined, he said.

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“We can’t address the underlying factors of poverty and racism, but we can find ways to prevent them from affecting health outcomes,” Rocha said.

Rocha said the Cook County Health Department’s efforts to keep people safe and manage hundreds of thousands of COVID vaccinations and tests show that a determined, multi-pronged approach is possible, and the Institute for Change hopes to continue this way. The Cook County Health Department is approaching its 1 millionth vaccination, he said.

“When we focus as a nation, as a global community, we can make things happen,” he said of the pandemic efforts. “We can’t let it go because we have many other conditions of silence” that require maintaining the same energy.

While details about the institute’s work are scarce, the Cook County Health Department will announce efforts to improve mental health care and maternal and child health outcomes in the coming weeks. Rocha said the institute will provide data and information on community health care, and he called on businesses, community and faith-based organizations, higher education and other health care organizations to join the effort.

This story first appeared in our sister publication, Crane’s Chicago business.