Call for Papers
Achieving Health Equity in the Social Determinants of Housing and Education

Submission Deadline: April 15th, 2018

BACKGROUND

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that health is inextricably tied to complex social determinants like where individuals live, learn, work, and play. As diverse individuals, communities, organizations, and sectors look to foster improved health and well-being, a vision for a vibrant society where all are enabled to live their healthiest and longest lives possible has emerged. Inherent in this vision is achieving health equity, which means everyone has a fair and just opportunity to live a healthier life.

Consider the millions of individuals living in low-income neighborhoods. These individuals have fewer opportunities for health and well-being; there is an increased likelihood that they may lack access to affordable housing, fresh foods, quality education, and employment opportunities, among other barriers. Achieving health equity requires new thinking about the role of complex social determinants and their impact on health inequities, so that such persistent barriers are removed. Among other concerted efforts, it requires new applications of academic principles and theories across diverse disciplines to glean new insights for pressing issues.

SPECIAL ISSUE FOCUS AND POTENTIAL TOPICS

This Call will accept papers that span the full range of the application of behavioral science approaches
and interventions that address the social determinants of housing and education in an effort to achieve
health equity. Papers pertinent to the special issue topic of achieving health equity must address excluded,
marginalized, and/or disadvantaged groups, and/or those facing systematic discrimination. Successful
papers in this Call are not required to focus on health equity as a quantitative outcome (i.e. quantitative
improvements in specific health and/or well-being measures of the groups mentioned above relative to
non-marginalized or advantaged groups are not required). Papers with policy relevant outcomes are
encouraged. More information about achieving health equity is available at www.rwjf.org.
For the purpose of this Call, papers addressing the social determinant of housing should focus on efforts
to increase the availability of opportunities to access safe, affordable, and connected housing (e.g. the
impact of housing mobility programs), to improve housing stability, or reduce the negative impacts of
gentrification and displacement. Applicants are encouraged to focus on diverse geographic localities,
especially those in rural areas. Papers addressing the social determinant of education should focus on
fostering healthier school environments for students in grades K-12. Papers addressing approaches and/or
interventions for improved social-emotional learning, increased physical activity, and/or healthier eating
are preferred.

Paper topics can also include next generation methodologies to study the application of behavioral science theories or approaches to achieve health equity within the determinants of housing and education; and integrated approaches or the application of lessons from achieving health equity in other determinants to those of housing and education. Special consideration will be given to papers that demonstrate high levels of policy-relevance.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

This special issue solicits original papers that must not be under consideration for publication in any other journal. Authors must follow Behavioral Science & Policy guidelines around: submission categories, writing guidelines, and the submission process and portal.

If authors would like pre-submission feedback on the appropriateness of a proposed paper, they should submit an inquiry to the Editors of the BSP special topic forum at [email protected].

The editor(s) will review all submissions to make an initial determination on suitability for this special issue. Papers that advance through this stage will be subject to anonymous peer review; these reviews will be taken into consideration by the editor(s) prior to selecting papers for publication in this special issue. (Being invited to submit to a special issue does not guarantee publication.)

The special issue will be published online, in an open-access format at https://behavioralpolicy.org/publications/.

KEY DATES

April 15, 2018

Submission deadline. (Papers will be reviewed and feedback provided as papers are submitted.)

December 2018

Expected special issue publication date.

ABOUT THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE & POLICY ASSOCIATION

The Behavioral Science & Policy Association is a global hub of behavioral science resources, curated by leading scholars and policymakers, aimed at facilitating positive change and innovative solutions to a range of societal challenges. Our mission is to foster and connect a growing community of interdisciplinary practitioners, providing thoughtful application of rigorous behavioral science research for the public and private sectors, with a simple goal in mind: addressing social change for the benefit of all.

Support for the referenced workshop and this special issue was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.