Striving for a Healthier Buffalo: A Community Health Needs Assessment for the Greater Buffalo United Ministries (2014)

This study demonstrated that a connection existed between poor health and neighborhood conditions.  In this study a social  determinants of health model was used to study the role played by socioeconomic and neighborhood factors.  The study concluded that the only authentic way to resolve the health issues facing blacks and Latinos to redevelop the neighborhoods in which they live and the strengthen the neighborhood social superstructure.  This will require turning the churches into health care outreach centers for the Greater Buffalo United Affordable Healthcare Network and creating linkages between the churches and the residents in the surrounding neighborhoods.  Only through a process of redeveloping the neighborhoods and organizing the residents will it be possible to reduce the  health disparities.