Disrupting Generational Poverty Through Community Driven Health Access
Clinton School of Public Service, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States.
Review Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 21(02), 2167-2181
Publication history:
Received on 03 January 2024; revised on 19 February 2024; accepted on 26 February 2024
Abstract:
Introduction: Generational poverty in the United States remains deeply intertwined with persistent health inequities that disproportionately affect low-income and minority populations. Community-driven health access has emerged as a promising strategy to disrupt these cycles by addressing both immediate medical needs and broader social determinants of health. This study explores how community-based models contribute to poverty disruption, drawing insights from existing literature.
Materials and Methods: A qualitative thematic literature review was conducted, focusing on peer-reviewed journals, policy reports, and organizational documents published between 2010 and 2023. Sources were identified through structured database searches and screened based on relevance to poverty, health inequities, and community-driven health interventions in the U.S. Data were systematically coded, and thematic synthesis was applied to identify patterns and gaps across studies.
Results: Findings revealed four major themes: (1) improved health access enhances education and employability, (2) community models reduce financial strain by lowering medical debt, (3) grassroots and faith-based programs build trust and cultural alignment, and (4) systemic challenges such as funding instability, policy inconsistencies, cultural barriers, and racism limit program effectiveness.
Discussion: The review highlights that community-driven health initiatives, such as Federally Qualified Health Centers, school-based health clinics, community health workers, and grassroots programs, play a significant role in improving health equity and disrupting cycles of poverty. However, their impact is constrained by structural barriers. Addressing these barriers requires sustainable community engagement, stronger federal-state partnerships, and the scaling of local innovations.
Conclusion: Community-driven health access provides a viable pathway to disrupt generational poverty in the United States. By integrating health services with social support and policy reform, these models can create sustainable improvements in education, employment, and economic stability. Policymakers should prioritize investment in scalable, community-centered approaches to break the persistent links between poor health and poverty.
Keywords:
Generational Poverty; Community-Driven Health Access; Social Determinants of Health; Human Capital Theory; Structural Violence Theory
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Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0