Diversity and Health Disparities Update
We would like to share with you recent resources, interesting programs and upcoming events on the topics of health care diversity and health disparities.
EVENTS
Summer Enrichment Program: Institute for Diversity and Health Equity
The 2018 Summer Enrichment Program registration is OPEN for students and host sites! The Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) places diverse graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in health care administration or a related field in 10-week, paid internships at health care organizations. Experienced administrators serve as preceptors and mentors, providing support and career advice as well as those critical early-career connections. Participating in the (SEP) program sends a powerful message that your organization is committed to diversity and equality, and gives the students the jumpstart they need to begin their health care careers.
» Learn more
Tackling the Opioid Epidemic in the Chickasaw Nation: National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities Webinar
The NPA's American Indian and Alaska Native Caucus will host a webinar, "Tackling the Opioid Epidemic in the Chickasaw Nation," on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, at 3 p.m. ET. This one-hour webinar will feature "Define Your Direction," a comprehensive prescription opioid abuse prevention movement created by the Chickasaw Nation. Learn about the movement's various components, challenges experienced during its development and implementation phases, and successes.
» Register here
Advancing Health Equity in Local Health Departments: 4-Part Webinar Series: Human Impact Partners
Human Impact Partners (HPI) conducts policy-focused and participatory research to evaluate the health impacts of policies across a range of issues including criminal justice, economic inequality, immigration, housing, land use and transportation. Identifying how these issues affect health and health equity can give a better understanding of the breadth of benefits and burdens communities may face as a result of policy change. "Championing Transformative Change to Advance Health Equity," HIP's final installment of "Advancing Health Equity in Local Health Departments Four-Part Webinar Series," will take place Feb. 15, 2018, from 10 to 11 a.m. PT.
» Register and access materials from the previous webinars
2018 National Conference: Association for Community Health Improvement
The ACHI National Conference will be held March 14-16, 2018, in Atlanta. Each year community health, community benefit and population health professionals gather to learn from experts and exchange ideas. This year's agenda will feature a track titled, "Social Determinants of Health: Advancing Health Equity." Presentations in this track will focus on cross-sector, community-based strategies that address the social determinants of health and enable communities to achieve the highest level of health for everyone.
» Register here
2018 Disparities Leadership Program: The Disparities Solution Center
The Disparities Solution Center at Massachusetts General Hospital is still accepting applications for the 2018-2019 Disparities Leadership Program. The Disparities Leadership Program (DLP) is a year-long, hands-on executive education program focused exclusively on helping health care leaders achieve equity in quality. The application deadline is Feb. 23, 2018.
» Apply for the program
REPORTS AND RESOURCES
Social Determinants of Health Series: The American Hospital Association, Health Research & Educational Trust, and Association for Community Health Improvement
The third installment in the AHA, HRET and ACHI program, "The Social Determinants of Health Series," was released in November 2017. "Transportation and the Role of Hospitals" explains the link between transportation and health and highlights the role of hospitals and health systems in addressing transportation issues. The series is a collection of resource guides focusing on how hospitals can address the determinants of health such as food, housing and education.
» Read "Transportation and the Role of Hospitals" and previous guides
Facilitating Health Communication with Immigrant, Refugee, and Migrant Populations Through the Use of Health Literacy and Community Engagement Strategies: The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Health and Medicine Division Workshop Proceedings
The increasingly diverse ethnic composition of the United States population has created a profound and ongoing demographic shift, and public health and health care organizations face many challenges as they move to address and adapt to this change. To better understand how the public health and health care communities can meet the challenges of serving an increasingly diverse population, the National Academy of Science Engineering and Medicine's Roundtable on Health Literacy created an ad hoc committee to plan and conduct a public workshop on facilitating health communication with immigrant, refugee and migrant populations through the use of health literate approaches. On Nov. 13, 2017, National Academy of Medicine released a summary of the committee session discussion.
» Read the summary
People Living with Disabilities: Health Equity, Health Disparities, and Health Literacy: The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Health and Medicine Division Workshop Proceedings
Poor health literacy has many negative consequences for achieving the quadruple aim of better care, improving the health of the community and the population, providing affordable care and improving the work life of health care providers. Those consequences disproportionately affect those individuals with disabilities and those who experience health disparities. To better understand how health literacy, health equity and health disparities intersect for individuals living with disabilities, the Roundtable on the Promotion of Health Equity and the Elimination of Health Disparities and the Roundtable on Health Literacy jointly sponsored a workshop that was held on June 14, 2016, in Washington, D.C. A summary of the discussions and presentations was released Nov. 28, 2017.
» Download the summary
Perspective on Health Equity & Social Determinants of Health:
National Academy of Medicine Special Publication
Health disparities and health inequities have long been experienced between and among people and communities. Recognition and understanding of how social factors impact health outcomes is crucial to reversing the debilitating and lethal consequence of these inequities. On Dec. 6, 2017, The National Academy of Medicine released a publication titled "Perspectives on Health Equity & Social Determinants of Health." This collection of papers provides a stark look at how health and well-being are nurtured, protected and preserved where people live, learn, work and play.
» Download the publication
Interactive Hub to Promote Health Equity: The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
A new National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine interactive tool provides strategies communities can use to promote health equity. This interactive hub showcases examples, specific actions and messages for different sectors that can play a part.
» View the tool
Financial Inequality: Disability, Race, and Poverty in America: National Disability Institute
The National Disability Institute (NDI) is dedicated to raising awareness about the treatment of individuals with disabilities and advancing financial inclusion and economic self-sufficiency for individuals across the spectrum of disabilities and their families. Last fall, the NDI released a report, "Financial Inequality: Disability, Race, and Poverty in America," which examined the unique dynamic of disability, race and poverty and underscored the necessity of increasing awareness about the intersection of race and poverty on the challenges faced by people of color with disabilities.
» Read the report
The Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey: Data Collection in Small Populations
The National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data from the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) which was jointly supported by the Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This project is the first national health survey to use a sample frame consisting of NHPI households. This project was the result of years of advocacy by Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community organizations, leaders and health researchers, combined with advancements in federal policies on data collection standards for racial/ethnic populations.
» View the survey
Living in an Immigrant Family in America: How Fear and Toxic Stress are Affecting Daily Life, Well-Being & Health: Kaiser Family Foundation
Immigrant families are living with heightened fear and uncertainty because of stricter immigration policies and increased enforcement. The fear and the stress it creates is compromising children's health, possibly for the long term, and is also causing some parents to forgo health care or withdraw from public health programs such as Medicaid. "Living in an Immigrant Family in America: How Fear and Toxic Stress are Affecting Daily Life, Well-Being, & Health," a new issue brief from the Kaiser Family Foundation, gives insight on how the current environment is affecting the daily lives, well-being, and health of immigrant families.
» Read the brief