Social and Environmental Justice as a Lens to Approach the Distribution of $105 Million of Directed Funding in Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster

Abstract

Abstract

We describe the underlying role of environmental and social justice concepts in the development of the Gulf Region Health Outreach Program (GRHOP), an ongoing 5-year, $105 million community health program funded through the medical settlement of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. The DWH oil spill affected a broad area of the Gulf Coast, causing direct health, social, environmental, and economic effects. The affected communities have health statistics that is among the poorest in the nation, and had previously been battered and disrupted by natural disasters. A major toxic tort law suit ensued. Included in this $7.6 billion settlement was a unique provision for a community health outreach program to expand and improve access to healthcare in underserved areas; address behavioral and mental health needs; train community health workers; and expand and improve environmental health expertise, capacity, and literacy. The settlement specified the 17 counties and parishes in four states for GRHOP activities. Using the CDC Comparative Health Statistics Indicator, we find that these counties have worse health statistics than comparative counties. Specified to be involved in GRHOP are the Alliance Institute, the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), and five universities. Approaches to strengthening community-based health clinics in underserved areas were based on a thorough initial evaluation of needs and resources by LPHI. At its outset, the GRHOP recognized that sustainably addressing health disparities, including recognition of the impact of environmental and social justice, was central to improving the resilience of communities faced with further natural and technological disasters.