Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
AoA salutes the more than 15 million Asian Americans and the estimated one million Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders who continue the legacy of duty to and love of country of their forefathers and foremothers during the month long observance of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We particularly acknowledge the great works achieved by older Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Asian/Pacific American population, in particular the elderly population, is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. In 2007 (the most recent year for which data are available) the Asian, Hawaiian and Pacific Island older population was almost 1.3 million, making up 3.3% of the older population. This number is projected to grow to over 7.6 million by 2050, giving it a projected percentage of 8.6 percent of the older population. As we celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, we must recognize that making significant progress in the health status of Asian/Pacific Americans will positively affect our entire nation's health and well being. AoA has a number of initiatives that focus on the health of older Americans, with several targeted to Asian/Pacific elder communities; among these are our Evidence-Based Prevention Programs. Through these programs, AoA is using scientific research to enhance community-based efforts and strategies for building public-private collaborations to support evidenced-based prevention programs. To read President Obama's Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 2009 Proclamation go to
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Proclamation-Asian-American-And-Pacific-Islander-Heritage-Month/
| Last Modified: 8/11/2009 4:05:45 PM |
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