CDPHE's 2013 Health Disparities Report

“Health disparities are differences in health status, access to care, or quality of care among groups with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage — e.g., groups based on race or ethnicity; religion; socioeconomic status; gender; age; mental health; cognitive, sensory, or physical disability; sexual orientation or gender identity; or geographic location.

In Colorado, Blacks have a significantly higher prevalence of many health risk behaviors and conditions compared with Whites, including diabetes (12% vs 6%, respectively), asthma (18% vs 9%), obesity (28% vs 19%), and no leisure-time physical activity (27% vs 14%).

For more information on health disparities in Colorado, see CDPHE Office of Health Equity’s 2013 Health Disparities Report.  For more information about chronic disease data in Colorado, contact renee.calanan@state.co.us.”  [Source:  COPrevent]

[Webinar] The Health Care Law and Health Disparities

When: April 29 at 2:00 pm ET

"The health care law, the Affordable Care Act, includes many provisions that address health disparities. The law also provides many benefits for Latinos, African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders and more. Join Acacia Salatti, Acting Director of the HHS Partnership Center, and other health experts in learning more about the Affordable Care Act and health disparities."  Click here to register.  [Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]

HHS offers moms knowledge, help and support through a new breastfeeding initiative

"Today, Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA announced the launch of It’s Only Natural, a new public education campaign that aims to raise awareness among African American women of the importance of and benefits associated with breastfeeding and provide helpful tips...It’s Only Natural was developed to equip new moms with practical information and emotional support from peers, as well as tips and education about the benefits of breastfeeding and how to make it work in their own lives. All of the material is uniquely crafted for African American women. To learn more about the campaign, visit www.womenshealth.gov/ItsOnlyNatural."  [Source: COPrevent]

Six Steps to Reduce Disparities in Health Care

Want to jumpstart your organization’s efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in care in 2013? Finding Answers: Disparities Research for Change offers three new resources that can help your project gain momentum this year.

• See the Roadmap to Reducing Disparities Infographic
• Access the FAIR Database (a comprehensive collection of summaries and systematic reviews of racial and ethnic health disparities intervention literature)
• Follow @FndgAnswers in January and receive a month of tips, tools, and updates on the latest developments in disparities research, ACA implementation as it relates to disparities, and easy-to-adapt intervention models.

[Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation]

Webinar: Post-Election Perspectives, Possibilities and Predictions for Health Reform and Reducing Diabetes Disparities

Nov. 13, 4 - 5 p.m., Post-Election Perspectives, Possibilities and Predictions for Health Reform and Reducing Diabetes Disparities. Leading health policy experts will discuss the election results and what's next for health reform. Sponsored by the Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes.

Data Makes a Difference: Practical Tips for Using Data to Address Health Disparities

When: Thursday, October 11, 2012 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Mountain Time)
Where: The Colorado Trust, 1600 Sherman Street, Denver, Colorado 80203-1604 

"The purpose of this workshop is to help participants find, understand, interpret, and use data to support their work to eliminate health disparities. The intended audience for this workshop includes members, staff, or volunteers of the community-based organizations who have had no or little exposure to data and are seeking to develop basic knowledge about data related to health disparities. Using a common scenario, a trainer will guide participants through steps needed in a process to use data to address a specific health disparity. Throughout the workshop, the trainer will pose questions to guide participants’ critical thinking about data. Participants will also learn strategies to ensure the entire process of data access, interpretation, and use serves to strengthen participants' efforts to bring their own community together to address health disparities."  Click here to learn more and to register. [Source: National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities]

2012 Health Disparities Town Hall

The 2012 Health Disparities Town Hall Sept. 13 is a chance to learn about local and regional healthy disparity and minority health issues in Colorado. The Minority Health Advisory Commission and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment sponsor this event to provide a forum for local and regional public health groups to discuss efforts to promote health equity and reduce health disparities.

When:          Thursday, Sept. 13, 4-6 p.m.

Where:         Northside Aztlan Community Center
                    12012 Town Hall Meeting
                    Fort Collins, CO 80524

Click HERE to view or download the agenda. Please RSVP to Barbara Quintana at (303)692-2276 by Sept. 10.