Giving Compass' Take:

• Physical activity used as healthy coping mechanisms for individuals with adverse childhood experiences can help build resilience.

• More healthcare professionals are taking in account the social determinants of health and partnering with community organizations to help people who are struggling combat these hardships. How can donors help build bridges between health services and communities in need?

• Read about the right incentives to increase physical activity.

They refer to it as upstream. It’s where it all starts. That is, those things that influence how well we’ll be able to weather life.

Social determinants of health is another, related term.

But whatever the language, it all boils down to the fact that circumstances and conditions in our individual lives significantly affect our chances for staying healthy through the decades.I remember reading an article as a teen from one of my parent’s social work journals. It has stuck with me my entire life. The article asked the question: “What separates a child raised in poverty and adverse conditions who goes on to thrive later in life from those who don’t.”

More and more, physicians, medical centers, insurance companies and others within the U.S. health care delivery system are realizing that what happens in the doctor’s office or hospital cannot compensate for all the other factors that significantly affect a person’s health and well-being.

Many healthcare providers and payers, in fact, are taking action, partnering with community organizations and implementing programs to address the social determinants of health within the ZIP codes where they do business.

Organizations and those who care for the homeless are acutely aware of the importance of opportunity for physical activity in children’s lives. The effect of adverse childhood experiences is of grave concern for this population.  ACEs put many of these kids at significant risk for health issues later in life — seven out of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States, in fact.

Yet, experts  also assert that by instilling certain habits, healthy coping behaviors, and protective factors, we can help shield against some of the negative consequences of these early adverse experiences.

Read the full article about how excersize can help breed resilience by Helen Durkin at InsideSources.