A social-needs screening is a way for a doctor or nurse to learn about things in your life that could affect your or your child's health. It's done using a set of questions asked before or during a health care appointment. Social-needs screening is different from other health screenings because the questions aren't about health problems. Instead, they're about things like where you live, if you have enough food, or if you have trouble paying gas or electric bills. There also may be questions about if you are safe in your daily life.

It can be surprising to be asked about social needs when you're not expecting it. Sometimes social needs can feel hard to talk about. You don't have to answer any questions you don't want to. And you don't have to accept help.