Articles by Amanda Merck

Racial Bias Diminishes Latinos’ Optimism over Time

November 24, 2014

SaludToday Guest Blogger: Barbara Ferrer Chief Strategy Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation Migration of Latino families to America is an inspiring story of men, women and children leaving their native countries, often searching for better opportunities and safety for their families. Yet, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s recent poll of Latino families also reveals that a different narrative develops - frustration from racism and discrimination is wearing down Latinos over time in the United States. The newest Latino immigrants are brimming with hope, as they pursue opportunities to better educate their children, improve personal finances and find affordable housing. Meanwhile, those who have travelled a similar path – Latinos with generations of family roots in the U.S., as ...

Report: Latinos Primed to Use Technology to Prevent, Manage Diabetes

November 21, 2014

Latinos struggle with higher rates of diabetes than other groups. But Latinos, who also tend to be early adopters of new media technology, are ready to use their technological savvy to help prevent, manage and treat diabetes, according to promising new survey results by electronic health records review company Software Advice. The survey, which queried 1,983 Latinos, found that: 60% of Latinos are interested in tracking diabetes-related risk factors by independently accessing their medical records online (also known as electronic health records, or EHR). 71% of Latinos would be more likely to try to lower their diabetes risk if their physician sent a personalized risk assessment. 54% of Latinos say they would log and send personal health information electronically at their ...

Hispanic Students: Apply for Research Mentorship by 12/1/14

November 21, 2014

Are you interested in researching Hispanic health? The Hispanic Serving Health Professions Schools (HSHPS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of young researchers, is seeking undergraduate students and mentors who want to collaborate on research to improve Hispanic health. Their program is called the Student Mentorship Program for Hispanic Health Research (sMPH2r). This six-month, web-based program is the first formal mentorship program of its kind, which pairs mentees with three mentors from across the country including: Primary Mentor- who guides the mentee through a research project related to a Hispanic health issue; Secondary Mentor-who provides additional support and career guidance; and Tertiary Mentor-a doctoral student or resident who ...

Vote for Best New Video on Sugary Drinks & Marketing; Enter to Win a Prize!

November 19, 2014

We are unveiling six new videos of #SaludHeroes who reduced surgary drinks and improved healthy marketing for Latino kids. Watch the videos, vote for your favorite, and be entered into a drawing for a free T-shirt and jump rope! The videos are: A no-soda resolution in Texas. Water on every desk in California. Schools swap out sugary drinks in Virginia. Grocery stores tag healthy food in California. Fresh marketing for a corner store in California. L.A. corner store gets a marketing makeover. Vote for your favorite by Dec. 10, 2014. The video with the most votes gets a featured space on the new #SaludHeroes YouTube channel. See contest rules and more information here. The contest is directed by Salud America!, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program to ...

Report: Latino Kids Face Increased Sugary Drink Ads

November 19, 2014

Spanish-language TV advertising for sugary drinks and energy shots increased by 44% over the past few years, according to a new report. The report, Sugary Drink FACTS 2014, updates the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity's 2011 research on sugary drinks and advertising to children. The report highlights industry progress but also indicates that companies still have a long way to go to improve their marketing practices and the nutritional quality of their youth-marketed products. This is particularly relevant to Latino youth, who consume more sugary drinks than their white peers, with 74% of Latinos having their first sugary drink before age 2. Some progress was made in marketing to Latino kids: On Spanish-language TV, Kraft Foods and Red Bull eliminated virtually ...

Report: Latino Outreach Crucial to Success of Second Health Care Open Enrollment

November 18, 2014

Bilingual materials, the availability of navigators, and community outreach to answer questions about deadlines, eligibility and financial help would improve Latino participation in enrolling in or renewing health insurance under the second year of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a report by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR). The second ACA open enrollment began Nov. 15, 2014, and ends Feb. 15, 2015. Information and enrollment applications are available at www.HealthCare.gov and www.CuidadoDeSalud.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596. Also learn more at a #SaludTues Tweetchat on insurance at 1 p.m. ET Tuesday, Dec. 9. Census data shows the number of uninsured Latinos declined slightly, but other data show Latinos were still 23% uninsured after the first year of ...

Salud America! Leaders Given Prestigious Communication Award

November 18, 2014

Dr. Melawhy Garcia, Exito! Program Graduate

Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez and Mr. Kip Gallion, the leaders of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, today were named co-recipients of the Everett M. Rogers Public Health Communication Award from the American Public Health Association (APHA). Ramirez is an internationally recognized expert in health disparities research and outreach. Gallion is an accomplished health communications producer and researcher. Working together for more than 20 years, Ramirez and Gallion have developed robust health communication models, research interventions, community outreach, public and scientific speaking engagements, and training of young minds—which have contributed to reduced cancer and disease among Latinos, ...

Join Us for #SaludTues 11/18/14: What Does Thanksgiving Mean to Latinos?

November 17, 2014

How do Latinos celebrate Thanksgiving? There are many ways to celebrate Thanksgiving with different foods, family celebrations, and traditions! So let’s find out what Thanksgiving means to Latinos, and how they celebrate! The chat is co-hosted by Salud America!, Latina Lista and Mamas Con Poder (via @SaludToday, @LatinaLista & @MamasConPoder): WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “What does Thanksgiving mean to Latinos?” DATE: Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014 TIME: Noon CST (1:00 PM ET) WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludToday CO-HOSTS: @LatinaLista @MamasConPoder We’ll open the floor to your stories and experiences as we explore: Thanksgiving traditions of Latinos, Both traditional Thanksgiving and Latino recipes for the holiday, Activities ...

New Model For Reducing Diabetes Disparities Offers Hope to Latinos

November 14, 2014

Latinos, with a diabetes prevalence of roughly 16.9% compared to 10.2% for non-Hispanic whites, are greatly affected by diabetes. Fortunately, a new multicultural initiative aimed at closing the disparities gap is offering hope to members of Latino, African American, and Native American communities. The new five-year initiative, the Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes (Alliance), has found success by using a unique multisystem approach to managing chronic disease in vulnerable populations. In a cross-site evaluation of the initiative's five-site community-based care centers, investigators found that patients who were a part of the Alliance experienced decreases in blood glucose levels, increased quality of life, and decreased health care costs. Additionally, ...

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Amanda Merck

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