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A Project of the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative to Address Language Barriers, Access and Delivery of Health Care for Latinos
- Hablamos Juntos: Improving Patient-Provider Communication for Latinos - is a program designed to address how language barriers negatively impact the access and delivery of quality health care in communities that have experienced rapid growth in their Latino population. Twenty-three invitations were sent to applicants across the United States asking for full proposals to become one of the ten Hablamos Juntos demonstration sites. Letters inviting full proposals were sent to 24 finalists (one joint application was solicited) and submissions were expected April 26. The final grantee sites will be chosen in September. More
HHS Health Disparities Initiatives
- Healthy People 2010 (HP 2010) - was developed through a broad consultative process involving the community. One overarching goal of the HP 2010 objectives is to eliminate health disparities, elevating minority health prominently into public view. The OMH played an integral role in developing the HP 2010 objectives to eliminate racial and ethnic minority disparities in health. This initiative serves as the United States' contribution to the World Health Organization's Health for All strategy.
The Initiative to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health - The demographic changes that are anticipated over the next decade magnify the importance of addressing disparities in health status. In response to these concerns, the President committed the Nation in 1998 to an ambitious goal: to eliminate the disparities in six areas of health status experienced by racial and ethnic minority populations while continuing the progress we have made in improving the overall health of the American people by the year 2010. The six areas infant mortality, cancer screening and management, cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, HIV Infection/AIDS, and child and adult immunizations were selected for emphasis because they reflect areas of disparity that are known to affect multiple racial and ethnic minority groups at all life stages.
A number of strategies have been developed and implemented, including: a coordinated Federal government, private sector, and local community effort to eliminate racial and ethnic minority health disparities in six areas by the year 2010 and enhanced resources for fighting HIV/AIDS in racial and ethnic minority communities. In addition, special work groups have been formed to review health status, determine research needs, and develop strategies that help improve minority health. The OMH assisted in the formulation of this initiative.
HHS Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative - In response to the devastating impact the disease has had in Black and Hispanic communities, in October 1998 the Administration declared HIV/AIDS to be a severe and ongoing health crisis in racial and ethnic minority communities. The Administration, Department, Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus have since collaborated on a special package of initiatives to reduce the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on communities of color. Congress appropriated $166.7 million for HIV/AIDS and $250.9 million in FY 2000. In FY 2001, Congress appropriated $274.3 million.
With increased funding for this initiative, the HHS has made an unprecedented commitment to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic, responding aggressively to the threat and enhancing prevention, care, treatment, and research activities. This initiative provides funds through six HHS agencies to community-based organizations, faith communities, research institutions, minority-serving colleges and universities, health care organizations, state and local health departments, and correctional institutions.