Archived
June, 2007 |
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Hispanic Health Program
URBAN RESEARCH CENTERS
WHAT IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM?
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The urban
disadvantaged bear a disproportionate burden of the nation’s health
problems. New Census information shows that more Hispanics/Latinos now live
in urban areas than at any time. |
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Evidence demonstrates that Hispanic/Latino health is largely
influenced by social factors (e.g., income, education,
discrimination, and community characteristics), especially at the
community level. |
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Research is needed to
develop intervention models that produce effective, sustainable
improvements in urban health and quality of life for Hispanics/Latinos. |
WHAT HAS CDC
ACCOMPLISHED?
In
1995, CDC established Urban Research Centers (URCs) to assess and improve
the health of urban communities. Located in Detroit, New York City, and
Seattle, the URCs engage government, academic, private, and community
organizations as partners in setting priorities and designing,
implementing, and evaluating community-focused public health research and
interventions. These effective and sustainable partnerships address such
community-defined priorities as the prevention and management of diabetes,
asthma, and intimate partner violence in African Americans,
Hispanics/Latinos, Asians and Pacific Islanders, as well as immigrant and
refugee populations.
Example of program in action: |
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LA VIDA---the Southwest
Detroit Partnership to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence Against Latina
Women---addresses the problem of intimate partner violence (IPV) and the
lack of culturally competent prevention and support services for
Hispanic/Latina
women and their families. Since 1998, representatives from local health
and human service agencies, churches, police and criminal justice systems,
domestic violence agencies, and academia have mobilized to develop,
implement, and evaluate a multi-component, community-based intervention
aimed at reducing IPV in Hispanic/Latino families. |
WHAT ARE THE NEXT
STEPS?
Early successes in the URCs
demonstrate that community-based participatory research is an effective
strategy for identifying and systematically addressing urban public health
problems. Next steps include refining evaluation methods and applying the
model to a broader range of settings, such as expanding into new
Hispanic/Latino communities identified in the ten most populous States, or
the U.S.-Mexican border communities, or other Hispanic/Latino communities
at risk.
For more information, contact the Epidemiology
Program Office, Division of Prevention Research and Analytic Methods, Mailstop
K73, 1600
Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333: (770)
488-8241:
www.cdc.gov/epo/index.htm. |
Back to the Hispanic/Latino Populations Page
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