How OTs can address Social Determinants of Health
If you are from a health system or community looking to address social determinants of health, you will likely want an occupational therapy professional on your team.
This article will tell you why.
We will also share screens and resources OT professionals can leverage to help in your endeavors! And, lastly, you’ll find a directory of OTs in your area that are interested in this work.
Screening for social determinants of health
One concrete way occupational therapy professionals can support a social determinants of health team is by screening individuals for their needs related to SDOH. There are numerous screens we can utilize. Below are examples.
Adult screens for social determinants of health
Accountable Health Communities Health-Related Social Needs (AHC-HRSN)
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Social Needs Screening Tool
Access Health Spartanburg: Social Determinants Screening Tool
Pediatric Screens
For even more information on assessing social determinants of health, I recommend checking the social needs screening tools comparison from SIREN. There is also this newly published systematic review: Screening children for social determinants of health.
Action Planning and Implementation
Your organization will likely develop an action plan for addressing social determinants of health. OTs are skilled at creating plans for both individuals and populations. The planning and implementation stage is often about connecting the dots with services already in your community.
There are also toolkits, databases and social care platforms out there than can be leveraged these include:
Health Data and Related Technology
Upstream Investment Resources
Action Planning and Implementation
Social care platforms
Social care referral platforms connect healthcare and social care. Some of them offer what is called “closed loop referrals” which is when a health care team member generates a referral, it is sent electronically to a community-based organization.
The organization then reviews and identifies if they can assist the client. The results of the referral are then sent back to the person who sent the referral. This is important for several reasons:
Social care outcomes come back to the clinician to manage and promote awareness.
Data on social care is generated to help stratify social care resources.
Most importantly, clients are not expected to self-solve their own social needs.
It is important to note that technology is a part of the social care ecosystem and not a panacea to address social needs. However, these platforms offer opportunities to connect health care and social care.
Here are examples:
211 – 211 is a hotline in many communities that support social needs. At times, they partner with social care referral platforms offering navigation services.
Other organizations to connect with who are supporting this work
Addressing social determinants of health not only requires teaming up with organizations in your local community, it also is aided by aligning with national programs.
Again, OTs are incredible professionals to spearhead these relationships.
National orgs addressing SDOH
Find an OT who specializes in social determinants of health
If you’ve reached this point in the article, and have decided you want an OT to help you connect all of these dots, you can search our OT Directory for one who has tagged this as their interest. Who knows, you might already have the perfect fit for your team working at your organization!
Amanda M Fonner
OTR/L
Educator
Mercy Hospital Jefferson
Festus, Missouri
Anxiety, Burns, Cancer, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Depression & Mood Disorders, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Hand Therapy, Health Promotion, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Lymphedema, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Parkinson’s, Social Determinants of Health, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD, Vestibular & Balance Rehab
Ellie Lane Murphy
OTD, OTR/L,
Educator
Ozarks Technical Community College
Springfield, Missouri
ADHD, Autism, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Social Determinants of Health
Bridget Heddens
OTR/L, OTD
BEAM+
Aurora, Colorado
ADHD, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Autism, Coaching, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Grant Writing, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Nature-based, Neurodiversity, Population Health, Sexuality/Intimacy, Social Determinants of Health
Mary Schmitz
OTD, OT/L, ECHM
Mohave Valley School District
Fort Mohave, Arizona
ADHD, Aquatic Therapy, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Knowledge Translation, Leadership, Multi-tiered System of Supports, Neurodiversity, Prevention, Population Health, Seating and Mobility, Social Determinants of Health, Trauma & PTSD
Sarah Anne Hart
OTD, OTR/L, RYT-200
Hart and Haven LLC
Denver, Colorado
ADHD, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Autism, Chronic Conditions, Coaching, Lifestyle Medicine, Neurodiversity, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Social Determinants of Health, Trauma & PTSD
Shaunna Kotka
OTD, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, CMT
Administrator
Open Grounds Inc.
Marina del Rey, California
ADHD, Anxiety, Cancer, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Depression & Mood Disorders, Dystonia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fitness, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Insomnia & Sleep, Knowledge Translation, Lymphedema, Medication Management, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Parkinson’s, Prevention, Population Health, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Rare Diseases, Rheumatic Diseases, Social Determinants of Health, Sports Medicine & Performance, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD
PJ Bhakta
OTR, OTD, PCES, CSOT
Consultant
TheraSolutions Consulting, LLC
Cedar Park, Texas
ADHD, Chronic Pain, Coaching, Depression & Mood Disorders, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Ergonomics, Fitness, Hand Therapy, Health Data, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Industrial Rehabilitation, Insomnia & Sleep, Knowledge Translation, Lifestyle Medicine, Leadership, Maternal Health, Neurodiversity, NICU, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Population Health, Sexuality/Intimacy, Social Determinants of Health, Sports Medicine & Performance, Trauma & PTSD
Taira Mayo
MOT, OTR/L, MHFA
Tucson, Arizona
Aging in Place, ADHD, Anxiety, Chronic Conditions, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Ergonomics, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Leadership, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Parkinson’s, Prevention, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, Trauma & PTSD
Gretchen Bachman
PhD, OTD, OTR/L, MBA, CHT
Northern Arizona University
Phoenix, Arizona
Chronic Pain, Ergonomics, Hand Therapy, Leadership, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Social Determinants of Health
Rachel Robertson
MOT, OTR/L, CBIS, ADHD-RSP
Neurospace LLC
Saline, Michigan
ADHD, Autism, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Medication Management, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Prevention, Social Determinants of Health, Spinal Cord Injury, TBI
Destiney Carmichael
OTS
Student
Xavier University
Cincinnati, Ohio
Aging in Place, ADHD, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Anxiety, Assistive Technology, Autism, Burns, Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, CIMT, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Dystonia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fitness, Feeding and Eating, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Home Modifications, Insomnia & Sleep, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Lymphedema, Maternal Health, Multiple Sclerosis, Nature-based, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, NICU, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Parkinson’s, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Rare Diseases, Rheumatic Diseases, Seating and Mobility, Sexuality/Intimacy, Social Determinants of Health, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD, Vestibular & Balance Rehab
Cristina Reyes Smith
OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Medical University of South Carolina Division of Occupational Therapy
Charleston, South Carolina
ADHD, Assistive Technology, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Fitness, Grant Writing, Health Data, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Knowledge Translation, Leadership, Neurodiversity, Prevention, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health, Stroke, Trauma & PTSD
Christine Urish
PhD, MS, OTR/L, BCMH, FAOTA, CCAP
Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa
ADHD, Anxiety, Chronic Conditions, Coaching, Dementia, Health Promotion, Insomnia & Sleep, Lifestyle Medicine, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Prevention, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health
Janice Hinds
OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCMH, FAOTA
CO Mental Health Hospital - Fort Logan, Denver, CO
Denver, Colorado
Aging in Place, Anxiety, Chronic Conditions, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Health Data, Health Policy, Home Modifications, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Knowledge Translation, Leadership, Multi-tiered System of Supports, Neurodiversity, Prevention, Population Health, Seating and Mobility, Social Determinants of Health, TBI, Trauma & PTSD
Nicole Lavery
OTD, OTR/L, CKTP, CEAS I, III
Gannon University
Erie, Pennsylvania
Autism, Burns, Cerebral Palsy, Ergonomics, Fitness, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Industrial Rehabilitation, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Leadership, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Prevention, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health
Amy Lamb
OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Meraki&Me, LLC
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Aging in Place, Chronic Conditions, Coaching, Health Data, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Knowledge Translation, Lifestyle Medicine, Leadership, Prevention, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health, Trauma & PTSD
Megan Latham
OTD/S
Student
Xavier University, OTD Program
Cincinnati, Ohio
ADHD, Anxiety, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, CIMT, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Drivers Rehabilitation, Insomnia & Sleep, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Knowledge Translation, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, NICU, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Prevention, Social Determinants of Health, Trauma & PTSD
Stacy Simoneaux
OTR/L, MOccThySt(Hons), MBA-HA
Seattle, Washington
Aging in Place, ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Health Data, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Insomnia & Sleep, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Leadership, Mitochondrial Disorders, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurodiversity, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Prevention, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health, TBI, Trauma & PTSD, Tourette syndrome
Michelle Jackson
OTD, MBA, OTR/L
Missouri State University
Springfield, Missouri
Aging in Place, Health Promotion, Knowledge Translation, Neurorehabilitation, Social Determinants of Health, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD
Domonique Gholson
MSOT, OTD, OTR/L
Village For Me
Richmond, Virginia
ADHD, Anxiety, Assistive Technology, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Coaching, Fitness, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Leadership, Neurodiversity, Social Determinants of Health
Marnie Renda
OTD, M.Ed. OTR/L
Xavier University
Cincinnati, Ohio
Aging in Place, ADHD, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Assistive Technology, Chronic Conditions, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Grant Writing, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Knowledge Translation, Leadership, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Parkinson’s, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Population Health, Seating and Mobility, Sexuality/Intimacy, Social Determinants of Health, Trauma & PTSD
Kate Holbrook
OTD, OTR/L, CBIS, CPST
Des Moines University
West Des Moines, Iowa
ADHD, Assistive Technology, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Coaching, Dystonia, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Health Policy, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Leadership, Maternal Health, Mitochondrial Disorders, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Rare Diseases, Seating and Mobility, Social Determinants of Health, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD
Ryan Lavalley
PhD, OTR/L
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Aging in Place, Dementia, Grant Writing, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Leadership, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health
Mamie Luck
MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Triage Staffing
Richmond, Virginia
Aging in Place, ADHD, Aquatic Therapy, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Dystonia, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Home Modifications, Insomnia & Sleep, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Lifestyle Medicine, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurorehabilitation, NICU, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Prevention, Population Health, Seating and Mobility, Social Determinants of Health, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD
Contributors
Joy Doll
OTD, OTR/L, FNAP
Sarah Lyon
OTR/L
Sarah Lyon, OTR/L, is the CEO of OT Potential. Sarah earned her BA from St. Olaf College and her master’s degree in occupational therapy from New York University. Her diverse clinical background spans multiple settings, including critical access, acute trauma, and state inpatient psychiatric hospitals. In 2011, she founded OT Potential to fulfill the industry's need for reliable, high-quality occupational therapy resources and continuing education.
As a recognized content creator, Sarah has collaborated with top healthcare brands like VeryWell Health, WebPT, and MedBridge. She blends her clinical expertise with a talent for creating clear, action-oriented content that empowers practitioners to excel. Passionate about elevating the OT profession, she has been featured on numerous industry podcasts. Sarah ultimately returned to her roots, running OT Potential and raising her family in her hometown of Aurora, Nebraska.
