Efforts Seek To Establish Health Disparities Office, Promote Healthier Lifestyles, Reduce Infant Mortality Rates, Increase Hispanic Hospital Executives
-
Akron Health Department: Akron is one of seven Ohio cities expected to be awarded a planning grant from the Ohio Commission on Minority Health, and it will use the grant to establish a health disparities office, the Akron Beacon Journal reports. The $37,750 grant will enable the department to hire a consultant who will develop proposals to request that the commission support the office full term (Wheeler, Akron Beacon Journal, 5/24).
-
Brunswick County Health Department: The state Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities will provide the county with a $55,684 grant to help minority women develop healthier lifestyles, according to the Wilmington Star-News. The grant is renewable if the state continues funding and the health department meets certain criteria with its programs (Wilmington Star-News, 5/23).
-
HHS' Office of Minority Health: OMH on Monday announced that it will launch a media campaign, "A Healthy Baby Begins With You," seeking to reduce infant mortality rates among blacks. The campaign was announced in conjunction with the District of Columbia Department of Health, AMERIGROUP, D.C. Chartered Health Plan, Health Right and Health Services for Children with Special Needs at a local infant mortality awareness health fair and forum (OMH release, 5/21).
-
National Forum for Latino Healthcare Executives: NFLHE on Monday formally launched its organization and Web site, which both seek to raise awareness about the lack of Hispanic executives in the industry. According to the group, although Hispanics make up 14% of the U.S. population, less than 1% of hospital executives are Hispanic. NFHLE seeks to increase Hispanics representation at the executive level in the industry and provide resources on health regulations and policies affecting Hispanic communities. The Web site, nflhe.org, also will serve as resource to students and representatives in the industry (NFLHE release, 5/21).
-
Women, Infants and Children: USDA's WIC program, which provides food vouchers to indigent families, is said to be revising its menu to accommodate a growing immigrant clientele, the Charlotte Observer reports. According to the Observer, Hispanics now represent three million of the more than eight million program participants. The new menu is expected to include healthier and more culturally appropriate offerings, such as cheeses primarily eaten by Hispanics, tortillas, yams, dried beans, fruit and canned fish. It is also expected to include less milk, juice and other cheeses, which aims to ensure that women from Southeast Asia who traditionally do not consume many dairy products still can have access to healthy foods, according to the Observer. Tofu, soy milk and other alternatives might be added to the menu, as many Hispanics and blacks are lactose intolerant (Coto, Charlotte Observer, 5/21).
This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.