Primary prevention and addressing the socio-economic and environmental determinants of health are also considered to be essential to improving health and well-being. More specifically for AA and NHPI communities, significant challenges remain in these areas: data collection, dissemination, and analysis; access to culturally and linguistically competent services; civil rights and equal opportunity; and community capacity to address local needs.

This agenda outlines our national policy priorities for 2008 to 2012, as part of an ambitious framework for change in policies, in systems, and in the fundamental ways that we address health for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

On April 30 – May 1, 2007, a diverse group of researchers, advocates, health professionals, public health officials, community members, and other leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., for the first Health Brain Trust on Data & Research (“Health Brain Trust”). The Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) Health Brain Trust is an annual meeting of selected individuals, organized around a particular topic of interest to Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHOPI) stakeholders.