PROJECTS ON PUBLIC HEALTH
Vulnerability 2030: Scenarios on Vulnerability in the United States
In 2010, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation commissioned IAF to develop a set of scenarios describing the alternative futures of vulnerability and vulnerable populations in the U.S. in the year 2030. The project was part of the Foundation’s Vulnerable Populations Program, which addresses critical connections between health and social circumstances. IAF analyzed and assessed several major driving forces and factors including, but not limited to, the economy and employment, Internet and communications, environment, policy, food and diet, education, and technology. IAF also created a scenario toolkit and videos for organizations to consider the implications of the Vulnerability 2030 Scenarios for their own strategies and operations. Click here for more information.
Community Health Centers Leveraging the Social Determinants of Health
With support from the Kresge Foundation and in partnership with the National Association of Community Health Centers, IAF explored the ways in which community health centers across the nation are addressing the social, economic, and physical conditions that contribute to poor health among the patients they serve. The report, a database of cases, case studies, and other materials are available here.
Diabetes 2025 – U.S., State, and Metropolitan Trends
The Institute for Alternative Futures (IAF) has prepared estimates of the burden of diabetes in the years 2000, 2010, 2015 and 2025, for each of the 50 states plus 13 major metropolitan areas. Commissioned by Novo Nordisk, this free and easy-to-navigate data source can be used by policy makers and legislators, reporters, members of the diabetes community, and the general public. Click here to learn how this growing epidemic could affect your region though our interactive map and briefing papers.
Optimal Futures for Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS)
IAF facilitated a workshop for industry, regulators, consumer advocates, and academics to describe the optimal futures for the FDA's new Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies program. Click here for the PDF report.
Disparity Reducing Advances (DRA) Project
The Disparity Reducing Advances Project (the DRA Project) is a multi-year, multi-stakeholder project developed by IAF to identify the most promising advances for bringing health gains to the poor and underserved and accelerating the development and deployment of these advances to reduce disparities. Click here to learn more about the DRA Project, including foresight briefings and publications.
Charting the Future of Community Health Promotion: Facilitating the National Expert Panel on Community Health Promotion
In March of 2006, the Institute for Alternative Futures facilitated 25 people representing various health care sectors and broad areas of public health and community expertise. Those invited to the 2-day meeting included experts on community-based participatory research, local community-based practice, aging, and mental health; leaders from community-based and nonprofit organizations; and state and local health department representatives. IAF was responsible for designing the interactive and creative meeting to lead the panel in developing a set of actionable recommendations. You can view the recommendations from the panel here.
Pandemic Flu Approaches for the UK Government
Adapted from the concept of wargaming, simulations can explore new stakeholder engagement and collaboration opportunities; test strategies before deployment to know the risks and uncertainties in advance; and optimize team decision-making. This simulation tested the robustness of the UK's public health and pharmaceutical industry's pandemic flu contingency plans. Representatives from seven pharmaceutical companies, strategic health authorities, and the health protection agency were taken through a simulated pandemic to assess how they should operate together to ensure supplies of critical medicines, and distribute antivirals and vaccines where available. The simulation identifies previously unidentified critical gaps and means to address them, for example, a succinct risk communication strategy to elicit desired behavioral responses from the public.
Diabetes: The Looming Crisis
These forecasts were prepared by IAF to explore the possibility of a crisis in health care if nothing is done to prevent the growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes. The forecasts were prepared with support by Novo Nordisk and can be found here.