We recognize that there are many factors that play into the poor health of an individual such as inadequate housing, lack of healthy foods, and social and cultural barriers. ENCompass attempts to address these social determinants of health by empowering neighborhoods in Columbus to better navigate the healthcare system and lead healthier lives. Using online resource database systems, our students
volunteer at both clinical and social care sites to connect our clients with resources that address their individual needs. We aim to address both short term and long term concerns for our patients (ranging from addressing food insecurity to obtaining prenatal care). We provide our services during the wait times at these facilities, using otherwise unutilized time to benefit our clients. We are strictly a volunteer organization and provide our services at no cost. We are in part inspired by Rebecca Onie’s TED Talk: “What if our health care system kept us healthy”, which emphasizes the American healthcare system’s underutilization of student volunteers and the importance of “health-care” over “sick-care”.
