# Bridging Gaps: Provider Perspectives on Integrating Systems for Health Equity

## TL;DR

This study explores how providers in under-resourced areas face barriers to delivering equitable health services and suggests system-level changes to improve child and family health outcomes.

## Contribution

The study introduces a multilevel framework based on provider perspectives to address systemic barriers and promote health equity in community-based organizations.

## Key findings

- Providers identified macro-level barriers like racism and rights-based policy gaps.
- Community-level factors such as environmental impacts and social cohesion influence service delivery.
- Improving organizational integration and provider supports is critical for equitable care.

## Abstract

Health equity is shaped by multiple factors intersecting with service delivery in community-based organizations (CBOs). Providers in under-resourced areas are often the first point of contact for families seeking child development, mental health, and behavioral support. However, system-level barriers hinder service delivery and access. This study explores provider perspectives to identify barriers and inform system-level changes that promote equity in child and family health. Using a narrative qualitative design, in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 health and mental health professionals from child- and family-serving CBOs. Guided by ecological and strengths-based frameworks, interviews examined provider insights on challenges, strengths, and supports affecting service delivery. Key themes emerged across macro (rights-based policies, racism/oppression), community (environmental impacts, social cohesion), organizational (secondary stress, system fragmentation, provider supports), and family levels (basic needs, parenting support, service access). Findings highlight the need for a multilevel approach that prioritizes rights-based policies, strengthens community cohesion, and improves system integration. Enhancing CBO capacity to address these determinants could advance equity-oriented service delivery and mitigate structural barriers that perpetuate health disparities.