Efforts, Initiatives Seek To Address Health Disparities Among Minorities
The following highlights several efforts, events and a grant that seek to address health care disparities in minority communities.
- Arizona: The Arizona Daily Star on Tuesday profiled a University of Arizona College of Medicine course, called Conversantes, which trains students to become interpreters in the health care field. The program, which began in 2004, is a collaboration between the UA Department of Spanish and Portuguese and the Mexican-American Studies and Research Center. The program also is starting to partner with a university program called Concentration and Interpretation for the Legal and Health Care Field (Lopera/Alvarado, Arizona Daily Star, 4/14).
- Contra Costa County, Calif.: La Clinica de La Raza plans to nearly triple the size of its central Contra Costa health clinic to better help serve an increasing uninsured population, the Contra Costa Times reports. The organization recently purchased a larger facility where it hopes to move within the next 18 months. The clinic serves nearly 4,000 patients annually, providing dental and medical care (Kleffman, Contra Costa Times, 4/14).
- San Diego: California Department of Managed Health Care Director Cindy Ehnes and officials from La Maestra Community Health Centers and the California Office of the Patient Advocate recently announced a $164,123 grant to fund a culturally and linguistically sensitive lifestyle modification program targeting low-income, immigrant and minority residents, the La Prensa San Diego reports. The grant will be used to support a program developed by La Maestra in 1990 called the Medically Trained Cultural Liaison model, which trains people recruited from the community on areas of eligibility, health education and outreach (La Prensa San Diego, 4/10).
- Tulsa, Okla.: A group of American Indian youth on Monday gathered at the state Capitol to raise awareness of health issues the community faces, the Oklahoman reports. Jered Sullivan of the Anadarko United National Tribal Youth Council said the community needs help from lawmakers. The council seeks to promote good health among the American Indian community through lifestyle changes. Gov. Brad Henry (D) declared Monday "Make a Healthy Difference Day" in honor of efforts by a network that promotes leadership among American Indian and Alaska Native youth (Bisbee, Oklahoman, 4/14).