Skip to main content
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • Our Vision
    • Our Vision Overview
    • Why Health Equity
    • Focus Areas
    • Measuring RWJF Progress
  • Grants
    • Grants Overview
    • Active Funding Opportunities
    • Awarded Grants
    • Grantee Stories
    • Grant Process
    • Grantee Resources
  • Insights
    • Insights Overview
    • Blog
    • Our Research
    • Advocacy And Policy
  • About RWJF
    • About RWJF Overview
    • Our Guiding Principles
    • How We Work
    • Impact Investments
    • Staff And Trustees
    • Press Room
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Accessibility Statement
Find A Grant
Global Search Dialog
    Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
    • Our Vision
      • Our Vision Overview
      • Why Health Equity
      • Focus Areas
      • Measuring RWJF Progress
    • Grants
      • Grants Overview
      • Active Funding Opportunities
      • Awarded Grants
      • Grantee Stories
      • Grant Process
      • Grantee Resources
    • Insights
      • Insights Overview
      • Blog
      • Our Research
      • Advocacy And Policy
    • About RWJF
      • About RWJF Overview
      • Our Guiding Principles
      • How We Work
      • Impact Investments
      • Staff And Trustees
      • Press Room
      • Careers
      • Contact Us
      • Accessibility Statement
    Find A Grant
    Global Search Dialog

      Investing in Systems Changes to Transform Lives

      Blog Post Mar-10-2015 | Catherine Malone , and Najaf Ahmad | 3-min read
      1. Insights
      2. Blog
      3. Investing in Systems Changes to Transform Lives

      To address health disparities we need to change the systems that shape where we live, learn, work, and play. Oscar and Jose's stories show us how it's possible.   

      I was looking at somebody who could be a great person...who could do something great in his future. I also knew that if I sent him to prison, I’d knock him off of that road to success.

      In the quote above, Steven Teske, a Juvenile Chief Judge in Clayton County, Georgia, is describing the first time he encountered 15-year-old Oscar Mayes as he entered the courtroom in handcuffs. Judge Teske saw something special in Oscar. He saw an extremely bright young man and realized that he had no prior run-ins with the law. Yet Oscar was facing five years in the state’s long term lock up—five years that could have destroyed his potential.

      Fortunately, Oscar received a literal second chance. The Clayton County Second Chance initiative gives youth facing prison an opportunity to redeem themselves through intensive supervision, participation in evidence-based treatment programs, and weekly check-ins with the court. Judge Teske and others in his community realized that too many of their students were falling out of school and into the criminal justice system. So, the Juvenile Court partnered with local schools and law enforcement to find better ways of disciplining youth while keeping them “in school, out of court, and onto a positive, healthy future.”

      And it's working. Clayton County saw an 83 percent drop in arrests and school attendance has gone up by 86 percent. This is what changing a system can do.

      What are systems changes and how is the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) investing in them?

      Systems are the policies, practices, and procedures of institutions, corporations, agencies and other organizations that shape the determinants of health. Improving systems—and the way they work together—is our approach to eliminating health disparities.

      By taking a hard look at these systems—be they access to quality health care, income, public safety, community environment, employment, housing, education— we can find solutions to improve lives and reduce health disparities. We believe everyone in our country deserves an equal opportunity to live a healthier life which is key to building a Culture of Health.

      But it's frustrating to acknowledge the current reality. As RWJF’s own Dwayne Proctor noted, if you’re Black you’re 21 percent more likely to die from heart disease than if you’re white. If you live in the Deep South your life expectancy is an average of three years shorter than if you live in other parts of the country. Health disparities like these don't just harm individuals. They also threaten the prosperity of entire communities. We want to change this.

      To do so, we are launching the RWJF Awards for Eliminating Health Disparities to honor and celebrate those who have successfully created systems changes to eliminate health disparities. In doing so, we’re delving deeper into the determinants that impact health—the neighborhoods we live in, the schools our children attend, the jobs we work and the resources inside our communities. And we’re hoping to heighten awareness around the power of systems change.

      Jose’s story: From school suspension to college

      Last year our colleague Maisha Simmons met Jose, a bright student from Chicago who used art to express love, fear, joy and pain. He spread his art everywhere—on notebooks, text books and eventually the walls and fences of his community. Despite efforts of a relative to channel Jose's passion into a community art program, one day Jose found himself in the principal's office where teachers wrongly accused him of vandalizing school property. Unable to prove his innocence,  the school suspended Jose. He fell behind in his schoolwork which jeopardized his chances of graduating. Since art now reminded Jose of his struggles at school, he stopped pursuing his passion.

      But Jose was lucky to live in the city of Chicago with the Safe Schools Consortium, a coalition that offers alternatives to traditional harsh school discipline. A nonprofit partner of Safe Schools—VOYCE—offered Jose a chance to share his story and reconnect with art in a way that uplifted his community. Thanks to this partnership, rather than dropping out of school, Jose is now in college.

      Oscar and Jose are just two examples of what's possible when we change systems. We know that systems once pushed people like them toward unhealthy outcomes. But together, we can reimagine these same systems to guide everyone toward healthier and brighter futures and the Culture of Health that we are working toward. 

       

      About the Author

      Najaf Ahmad is senior managing editor of the Culture of Health Blog where she highlights perspectives about how the Foundation is advancing health equity in communities across the nation.

      About the Author

      Catherine Malone, MBA, is a program officer who works in the areas of diversity and nursing. Malone has worked on programs aimed at improving nursing retention, transforming the organizational culture of hospitals and engaging partners to address nursing issues.

      Subscribe to receive Funding Alerts & more

      Explore the latest in reflection and research from subject matter experts at RWJF and our wide network of partners.

      Email address already subscribed. Please check your inbox to manage your subscriptions.

      Subscribed!

      Thank you. You are now subscribed.

      Tell us what type of content you want to receive.

      Be informed with our twice a month newsletter updating you with relevant news and research around a Culture of Health, as well as the latest funding opportunities.

      Get funded by RWJF: Receive notifications when new funding opportunities are released.

      Receive monthly updates on RWJF-sponsored research that informs many robust health policy debates on Capitol Hill, covering topics like health equity, improving access to quality healthcare, equitable housing, and more.

      Shop talk for researchers. This monthly newsletter covers research news and opportunities from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

      Communications expedite action. Get periodic research and expert insights on the best ways to communicate so we can spread what works.

      Sometimes we have news, announcements or opportunities that don't quite fit the subscription parameters above. If you're interested, we'll send you this information under "There's more...". *If you've indicated you are an EU resident, we will only send these communications if you intentionally check this box.

      Which profession or pursuit best describes you?

      Area(s) Of Interest

      Unsubscribe

      Stop receiving all emails from RWJF

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
      • CONTACT RWJF

        50 College Road East
        Princeton, NJ 08540-6614

         

        US Toll Free: (877) 843-7953

        International: +1 (609) 627-6000

      • MANAGE YOUR GRANTS

        MyRWJF Login

        • Facebook
        • LinkedIn
        • YouTube
        • Instagram

      • Our Vision
        • Our Vision Overview
        • Why Health Equity
        • Focus Areas
        • Measuring RWJF Progress
      • Grants
        • Grants Overview
        • Active Funding Opportunities
        • Awarded Grants
        • Grantee Stories
        • Grant Process
        • Grantee Resources
      • Insights
        • Insights Overview
        • Blog
        • Our Research
        • Advocacy And Policy
      • About RWJF
        • About RWJF Overview
        • Our Guiding Principles
        • How We Work
        • Impact Investments
        • Staff And Trustees
        • Press Room
        • Careers
        • Contact Us
        • Accessibility Statement

      ©2001- 

      Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. All Rights Reserved. 

       

      • Manage Email
      • Privacy Statement
      • Terms and Conditions