Healing Communities

*Library workers are limited to 2 course enrollments through CALL annually. Already taken 2 courses? Email us to see if an exception can be made: call@cla-net.org.

Register here

Four-week Course | February 17 - March 16, 2026 | 
Live Sessions: Thursday, February 26th & March 12th, 1 - 2 PM

Libraries are critical entities that contribute to a community’s quality of life profile. While addressing community issues, libraries are being introduced to social determinants of health. Participants will gain knowledge about social determinants of health: economic stability, neighborhood and physical environment, education, food, community and social context, and health care systems. Participants will learn about how libraries can impact communities through the social determinants of health. Library examples will be given.

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are important to libraries because libraries serve as vital community partners. Libraries are seen as trusted, accessible community hubs to address by empowering diverse populations in the community programs and services. According to the 2015 Pew survey, almost two-thirds of adult Americans say that closing their local library would have a major impact on the community. This course will help library workers consider their role in their community’s SDOH and how to be impactful partners (Pew Research Center, 2013, How Americans Value Public Libraries).

Course Outline: When you log in to the Infopeople online learning site, you will see weekly modules with these topics:

• Week 1: What are social determinants of health?
  • Objective 1: Learn about the social determinants of health.
  • Objective 2: Understand how libraries can be contributors to reducing the negative impact of social determinants of health.
     
• Week 2: Review of Social Determinants: Economic Stability, Food, and Health Care System
  • Objective 1: Define and understand highlighted social determinants of health.
  • Objective 2: Explore the impact on communities.
  • Objective 3: Discover how libraries can help with key examples.
     
• Week 3: Review of Social Determinants: Neighborhood and Physical Environment, Education, and Community - Social Context
  • Objective 1: Define and understand highlighted social determinants of health.
  • Objective 2: Explore the impact on communities.
  • Objective 3: Discover how libraries can help with key examples.
     
• Week 4: Identify the social determinant of health domains that are prevalent in your library’s community
  • Objective 1: Evaluate opportunities in your community to address social determinants of health.
  • Objective 2: Understand how librarians and libraries may assist with addressing social determinants of health in the community.
  • Objective 3: Create ideas as to how the library may assist with addressing the social determinants of health in the community.

Additionally, the course will include two live 60-minute online sessions:

• Thursday, February 26th from 1 PM to 2 PM PT
• Thursday, March 12th from 1 PM - 2 PM PT
  
  These sessions will be recorded, and the recording will be shared afterward.

Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2 1/2 hours per week, for a total of twelve course hours. Each week's module contains readings and various options for assignments, discussions, or online meetings. You can choose the options most relevant to your work and interests. Although you can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night, it is recommended that you complete each week's work within that week to stay in sync with other learners.

Who Should Take This Course: All library workers should have an interest in this course.

Presenter:

Fatima Perkins is a respected, purposeful leader with over 20 years of experience in outreach, service planning, capacity building, strategic planning, and resource development. She provides optimal leadership, service, and support for small and large organizations. She has been engaged with the social services network for more than twenty years. She has shared her skills and talents with Greater Cleveland Volunteers, Alzheimer’s Association, Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, United Way of Greater Cleveland, and the Cuyahoga County Public Library.

As Director of Community Outreach & Advocacy for the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA), she develops strategic initiatives that engage, inform, and empower communities and individuals. She leads an outreach and advocacy team that connects with 300-plus venues each year. Through these efforts, thousands of individuals are informed and educated, including families, older adults, persons with disabilities, elected officials, service providers, nonprofits, and businesses. Her work advances the agency’s external presence by building strategic and sustainable community outreach, collaborations, and partnerships. Other performance areas include grant writing, events planning, marketing, sponsorship development, and brand placement for the agency.

She is a certified librarian through the Ohio Library Council. She developed more than 5,000 programs for the library industry, including health and wellness initiatives. Fatima is an American Library Association Spectrum Scholar. In addition, she is a Carnegie-Whitney 2015 recipient and created a compendium - Passport to Aging: Celebrating Global Perspectives. Fatima is the past Chairperson for Library Services to an Aging Population, Committee of Reference, and User Services Association. The committee authored Keys to Engaging Older Adults @ your library and Guidelines for Library Services with 60+ Audience: Best Practices/Reference Services Section. She has presented at several American Library Association Conferences.

In addition, Fatima earned a Masters of Nonprofit Organizations (MNO) from Case Western Reserve University and a Masters in Library and Information Science (MSLIS) from Syracuse University. She tirelessly advocates for older adults, communities, libraries, and librarians.

CALL Training Partner: Infopeople

Track: Community Engagement