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June 2009
In this Issue:
NEW MEDIA:
- The Alliance for Health Reform and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently hosted a briefing called Getting Healthy: Looking beyond Health Care. Panelists examined factors not related to health—such as education, income level, and other social determinants —that contribute to the overall health and well-being of Americans. To view a webcast of this briefing, click here.
- The University of North Carolina hosted its 15th Annual Summer Public Health Research Institute and Video Conference on Minority Health called Breaking the Cycle: Investigating the Intersection of Educational Inequities and Health Disparities. Panelists discussed topics ranging from the intersection between high school drop-out rates and health disparities, to policies that could improve the health and education of American Indians. To view a webcast of this conference, along with information about the presenters and the speakers’ slides, click here.
- The Kaiser Family Foundation hosted Putting Women’s Health Care Disparities on the Map: Examining Racial and Ethnic Disparities at the State Level, where they presented the findings of a new study that looks at disparities between women of color and white women in the United States. The study examines disparities based on 25 indicators—such as insurance coverage and health screenings and factors that influence health and access to care, such as education and income. To view a webcast of the briefing, click here.
- To view the video, Women At Risk: A View from the Safety Net, which was featured in the briefing, click here.
- To get interactive state-level data on the 25 indicators—such as health, access to care, and social factors—that influence health outcomes for women, click here.
PUBLICATIONS:
- Families USA recently published The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA): Addressing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. This brief examines four key provisions in the new law: investing in outreach, increasing access for legal immigrant children and pregnant women, increasing funding for interpretation and translation services, and establishing new quality of care measures. It also includes action steps for advocates.
- On May 27, 2009, Families USA and the Congressional Tri-Caucus co-hosted a Congressional briefing, Getting to Universal Coverage and Access. During the briefing, key experts explored the importance of achieving both universal coverage and access as a critical step toward health equity.
- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recently released its sixth edition of the National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR), which presents the latest findings on quality of and access to health care among various racial, ethnic, and income groups. Three key themes emerged from the 2008 report: 1) disparities persist, 2) disparities are different within subpopulations, and 3) some disparities exist across multiple populations.
- The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies published Trends in Child Health 1997-2006: Assessing Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Unmet Dental Care Needs. The brief compares the unmet dental care needs among children of different racial and ethnic groups and among children in families with similar socio-demographic characteristics, such as family type, poverty status, and health insurance coverage. According to the brief, Hispanic children are the most likely to have dental care needs that are unmet because of cost.
- The Prevention Institute prepared the report, A Time of Opportunity: Local Solutions to Reduce Inequities in Health and Safety, for the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM’s) Roundtable on Health Disparities. In this report, experts identify solutions from the state level down to the community level to reduce inequities in health and safety.
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The ACCESS Community Health & Research Center, Dearborn, Michigan
The ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services) Community Health & Research Center was founded in 1988 in Dearborn, Michigan. ACCESS is a human services organization dedicated to the needs and interests of the Arab American community. Their community health center focuses on the public health needs of Arab populations. It includes four divisions: medical, public health, environmental, mental health, and family counseling. The medical facility trains residents, nurses, and public health professionals in conjunction with the University of Michigan School of Public Health and Wayne State University School of Medicine. The center’s mission is to promote disease prevention and wellness as the key to keeping people healthy in the long-term.
The health center strives to provide health care services to the Arab community in a culturally- and linguistically-appropriate manner. For instance, information about swine flu is available in Arabic both online and at the health center. Every quarter, the center also produces a bilingual newsletter (in Arabic and English) highlighting the center’s achievements and programs. About ten years ago ACCESS published Guide to Arab Culture: Health Care Delivery to the Arab American Community, a primer meant to train and educate health providers how to provide culturally-meaningful care to Arab Americans.
One of the organization’s signature programs is the Healthy Kids program. Through the program, ACCESS targets low-income Arab American children between ages five and 10 and trains bilingual clinicians to teach kids about the health dangers of obesity and sedentary lifestyles. In addition to screening children for overweight and other risk factors, ACCESS works in conjunction with local schools to dispense bilingual educational materials on children’s health for parents and families.
ACCESS partners with the World Health Organization (WHO), Michigan Cancer Consortium, and the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Social Violence to provide its health services. For more information about ACCESS and the many programs and services available at the Community Health & Research Center, please contact its director, Dr. Adnan Hammad at ahammad@accesscommunity.org or at (313) 216-2200.
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White House Stakeholder Meeting on Health Disparities
On June 9, 2009, new leaders in the Administration including Secretary of Health Kathleen Sebelius, Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, and Tina Tchen hosted a stakeholder’s meeting on health disparities at the White House. Twenty-six representatives from key racial, ethnic, and minority groups met to discuss disparities in our health care system and to identify ways to achieve health equity. For more information about this meeting, see the Families USA blog post and the White House’s recap. The meeting coincided with the release of a new HHS report Health Disparities: A Case for Closing the Gap.
Update on Health Reform
Key committees in Congress began deliberations on proposed health care reform bills. In the Senate, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee began marking up its bill this month, and the Senate Finance Committee plans to release its proposed bill in early July. The House released its bill and is conducting hearings and mark-ups. Both the Senate and House are on track to pass bills before the August recess.
- Disparities in Health in America: Working towards Social Justice
June 20-26, 2009
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, Texas 77030
Sponsor: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
For more information and to register, click here.
- Lighting the Night: Healthcare Equality ‘09
June 24, 2009, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Freedom Plaza, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004
Sponsor: Healthcare Equality Project (HEP)
For more information and to register, click here.
- NALEO 26th Annual Conference: The Latino Political Convention
June 25-27, 2009
1755 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood, California 90028
Sponsor: The National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO)
For more information and to register, click here.
- 2009 National Medical Association Annual Convention & Scientific Assembly
July 25-29, 2009
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
Sponsor: National Medical Association
For more information and to register, click here.
- Disparities in Health in America: Working Towards Social Justice
June 20-26, 2009
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030
Sponsor: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
For more information and to register, click here.
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We’d like to hear from you!
If you would like to see your organization or event highlighted in a future edition of our newsletter, please send us a brief description of your organization and its activities, as well as your contact information. We also welcome guest authors for the Activities in the Field section of the newsletter. This section provides members of the minority health field with the opportunity to share their experiences and insights with other advocates. Please send all correspondence to: minorityhealth@familiesusa.org.
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