Population Health
Promoting the health of our communities through access, education, wellness and services when and where families need it most
Population Health
There are many ways to partner with CHOC to enhance the health and well-being of children in our community.
Every parent in Orange County wants their child to have access to high-quality healthcare, wellness programs and education. To make this equity-driven vision a reality, the CHOC Population Health department brings together physicians, healthcare workers, schools, nonprofit organizations and volunteers to dedicate resources and expertise that improve health outcomes for local children and families, especially those in our most vulnerable communities. From board-certified pediatric nurses providing mobile healthcare services in underserved neighborhoods to school-based coping resources teaching kids how to relieve stress, we provide services to forward our mission of ensuring every Orange County child can get comprehensive, high-quality healthcare.
Alongside CHOC’s Population Health Research Program, few organizations offer the variety of proactive and evidence-based community health programs that we proudly do. We seek to support whole-child and whole-family health by aiding many wellness areas, including physical and mental health, family relationships, academics, nutrition, transition to adult care and more.
CHOC Population Health programs advance our goal to make Orange County the healthiest county in the U.S. Whether you want to explore our programs for your family, school or community, help in our growth, volunteer or donate, there are many ways to help make this goal a reality.
Volunteer
The children, families, schools and communities that participate in our community programs thrive thanks to the volunteers who offer their time and talent to move our mission forward. Learn how you can get involved with our community programs.
Learn More
The CHOC Research Institute conducts population health research to address health outcomes for pediatric and adolescent populations in Orange County and beyond, developing preventive care and intervention models to proactively reduce health disparities.
Support
Access to high-quality healthcare and wellness programs is essential to advancing our goal of healthy communities. Your gift is an investment in the ability of our population health team to create, sustain and grow impactful community programs.
What is population health?
Population health refers to healthcare programs, solutions or strategies designed to improve the overall health of a specific group. At CHOC, this group generally consists of underserved families within the greater Orange County region.
Why is population health important?
Population health programs help to provide all community members with preventative and real-time healthcare access, education, services, interventions and more. With equity at the core, population health allows people within any demographic to enjoy healthy, happy lives.
Why is population health for children and families important?
By offering families from all backgrounds access to high-quality healthcare, mental health services, nutrition education, wellness resources and more, population health programs can create a solid foundation of health for children and their families today and into the future.
Why are healthcare groups like CHOC involved in population health?
As trusted community leaders and medical experts, the physicians, researchers and other medical professionals tied to area healthcare organizations ensure that population health programs are evidence-based, useful, valuable and fit their community’s unique needs.
What is an example of population health?
There are many kinds of population health programs. Common examples include:
- Mindfulness programs
- Classroom and after-school programs
- Preventative healthcare
- Healthcare equity
- Research and data analysis
- Nutritional support and education
- Healthcare and wellness access
- Patient care coordination
What are the components of population health?
Successful population health management will combine multiple key components into their strategy to boost positive health outcomes and deliver wider access to health and wellness programs within a community. While they can vary, these components often include:
- Research and data collection
- Disease prevention
- Early healthcare intervention
- Community engagement
- Nutritional education
- Care management
- Physical education
- Equity initiatives
- Local partnerships and collaborations
What is the difference between population health and public health?
Population health and public health are two different healthcare concepts, though they can overlap.
Public health primarily promotes positive health outcomes through prevention programs for an entire population, up to a national or global scale. Typically, the programs are developed to support issues like disease control, environmental issues, nutrition and emergency preparedness.
Population health usually meets people wherever they are in their healthcare journey. Population health programs also target a more specific population based on geography, socioeconomic status or a specific medical condition.
In short, public health broadly focuses on preventative healthcare, while population health helps specific populations access high-quality healthcare and related services. Both rely on outreach, fundraising, research and community support.