For Immediate Release:
December 15, 2008
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) was chosen to present key lessons about eliminating health disparities during the National Institutes of Health's first Research Summit on the Science of Eliminating Health Disparities. Six of 12 Health Through Action (HTA) Community Partnerships Grant recipients were also chosen to present findings on their work to provide more effective health care services and advocate for systems changes within their communities.
The NIH summit, held December 16-18 in National Harbor, MD, brings together leaders from around the country to share the latest research on eliminating health and health care disparities. During the NIH's first-ever summit on health disparities, APIAHF and six HTA grantees from five states will share lessons learned about strategies to eliminate health and health care disparities and inequities in Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. Examples include:
The Ohio Asian American Health Coalition: This statewide program has created a learning community to share resources, data and best practices to address Hepatitis B in the Asian and Pacific Islander population, with a focus on community education, screening, vaccination, treatment and research.
The Houston Asian American Health Collaborative: A program that removes the language and cultural barriers that typically prevent many Chinese cancer patients and their families from obtaining the support they need has improved the quality of life among Chinese breast cancer patients.
Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Atlanta, Georgia: The Center for Pan Asian Community Services will share lessons about how a community-based needs assessment, which has helped identify and prioritize issues, can be used to by non-profit organizations serving underserved and diverse Asian American communities.
National Tongan American Society, Salt Lake City, Utah: A panel of experts will discuss the impact of cultural context on obesity in the Tongan American community. About 60 percent of Tongan American adults in Utah are obese. The study examined factors that influence perceptions of attractiveness and healthy weight.
Asian Pacific Islanders with Disabilities of California: Asian and Pacific Islanders with disabilities face many challenges in obtaining rehabilitation services because of cultural stigma and language barriers. APIDC is exploring how a community-based approach can reduce these barriers.
Asian Pacific Community in Action, Maricopa County, Arizona: APCA has surveyed local Vietnamese American residents to assess their health, health-related behavior and perceptions about health. Preliminary research suggests good access to health care but low rates of screening for hepatitis B and tuberculosis.
"There is an urgent need to understand the extent of these health problems and disparities to effectively eliminate them," said Suhaila Khan, community capacity program director at APIAHF. "We hope these findings will propel NIH and other funders to invest in more research on these issues and our communities."
There are more than 15.5 million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the United States, which is roughly equal to the combined populations of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and New Orleans. Since 2000, the Asian American population, which includes more than 14.6 million people, has grown by more than 23 percent, making it the fastest growing racial group in the country. In the same time period, the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community, which is almost a million strong, has grown by more than 13 percent. If these rapid growth trends continue, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are expected to exceed 35 million people by 2050.
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About APIAHF:
Established in 1986, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) is a national health policy and advocacy organization whose mission is to enable Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders to attain the highest possible level of health and well-being.
About Health Through Action:
Health Through Action (HTA) is a $16.5 million, 5-year partnership between the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF). This community investment initiative is the first cooperative effort between a private foundation and a national Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander organization to eliminate health inequities in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. HTA strives to improve the health and health care for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander children, adults, and families. HTA aims to eliminate health and health care disparities and inequities in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities by supporting various community investments and promoting systems changes.
About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation:
Established in 1930, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports children, families and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society. Grants are concentrated in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the southern African countries of Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.
