Eric Moreno is a Content Curator with the Salud America! program at UT Health San Antonio. He specializes in covering the topics of health equity and family and social support. He holds a BA from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an MA from Gonzaga University.
New plans were revealed on expanding Medicare to cover programs to prevent diabetes recently. Aimed at preventing diabetes among the millions at high risk for the disease, the new plans would pay for certain “lifestyle change programs.” There are more than 50 million Latinos currently living in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2050, one in three people living in the United States will be of Latino origin. Diabetes is an urgent health concern for the Latino community. The rates of diabetes among Latinos are almost double those of whites. The programs that would be paid for by Medicare would feature trained counselors “coaching” participants on healthier eating habits and increasing physical activity as ways to prevent Type 2 diabetes. These types of ...
The child poverty rate in Colorado declined in 2014, marking the first consecutive decline in over a decade as was determined by the annual KIDS COUNT in Colorado! report. However, disparities still exist and improvements are not reaching all children. Colorado’s overall child poverty rate is 15%, which is still five points higher than it was in 2000. Poverty is defined as an annual income of less than $23,850 for a family of four. Disparities also remain significant for many children of ethnic and racial minorities. “We’re encouraged by the improvements in well-being for Colorado kids,” said Chris Watney, President and CEO of the Colorado Children’s Campaign. “These trends are buoyed by economic progress, as well as key policy changes supported by research. Breakthroughs ...
A study performed by the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute determined the least healthy counties in Texas. The study took into account numerous data sources regarding the health factors of populations, the ratio of dental and mental health care providers to people in the counties, socio-economic data, and unemployment data. Also taken into consideration were the typical length of life and quality of life. Based on the information, Brooks County (91% Latino population), located in the Rio Grande Valley, was deemed the least healthy county in the state. The report determined that 40% of all adults in Brooks County were of “poor health” and the obesity rate among adults was nearly 30%. The county also has an uninsured rate of 25% and 46% of the children in the ...
What happens when people get "priced out" of the homes they've lived in for decades? People like Luis Granados step up. Granados, Christopher Gil, and other leaders of the nonprofit Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) didn't stand by when a tech boom in San Francisco’s Mission District brought in higher-priced homes and threatened to push out lower-income families. They embarked on a mission to create 100% affordable housing in the area.
The rising housing costs in San Francisco
Since 1973, the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) offers free financial services to lower-income families in San Francisco’s Mission District, a 30% Latino neighborhood where most rent their homes, said Christopher Gil, the group’s senior content marketing manager. The ...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-third of all adults in the United States. As part of National Nutrition Month, the financial site WalletHub analyzed the 100 most populated U.S. metro areas to determine the ones with the most weight-related health problems. The “holistic” approach included overweight and obesity into its findings and examined 14 key metrics, including “percentage of physically inactive adults,” and “percentage of adults eating fewer than one serving of fruits and vegetables per day,” to determine their findings. According to the research findings, the “fattest” metro area in America is Memphis, TN (6.54% Latino population), while the “thinnest” was Honolulu, HI (5.89% Latino). The city with the ...
Obesity, cancer, and other health issues were increasing in the northern Colorado city of Fort Collins (11.43% Latino). In response, a community leadership group called Vida Sana formed to find ways to alleviate these issues and support residents. Dierdre Sullivan, a founding member of Vida Sana, soon recognized the best way to boost health was to use promotoras (community health workers) to teach residents how to help themselves.
People struggle with health issues in Colorado
Dierdre Sullivan, an activist in Fort Collins, Colo., has witnessed the local Latino population grow rapidly by 52% from 2000 to 2010. Sullivan said health issues increased rapidly, too. Many people here live in poverty. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, mental health, and other health issues related to ...
Many people arrive from other countries to Broward County, Fla., with no community ties, no possessions, no (or little) money, and no prospects for employment. Aside from the everyday challenges of this scenario, they also often face legal questions or citizenship matters. That’s why Hispanic Unity of Florida (HUF) was founded to offer free legal aid to low-income families in their most troubling times, to relieve stress and, in turn, improve people’s health and quality of life. Magaly Alvarado, a program manager with HUF, knew that she and her organization could and should do more to help their community.
People from other countries and toxic stress
Broward County, Fla. (27% Latino), is a hub for many Latin American and Caribbean transplants. Many members of this ...
Health issues plague many people in the community of Broward County, Fla. They often lack access to healthcare due to lack of insurance coverage, language barriers, and other obstacles. Magaly Alvarado, of Hispanic Unity of Florida (HUF), works to improve the lives of this population—especially in health and wellness. They began conducting special registration events and outreach to reduce the challenges local people face in enrolling for health insurance and accessing healthcare.
Hard choices due to finances
Magaly Alvarado, program manager of the local immigrant advocate group HUF, knows that Broward County, Fla. (27% Latino), has a geographic location that has led it to become a popular entry point into the United States for many Latin American and Caribbean people. Many ...
A new guide by ChangeLab Solutions can help local jurisdictions design a code enforcement program to help create and maintain health housing. Good quality housing is central to the health of individuals, families, and communities. When housing falls into poor conditions or disrepair due to pest infestation, moisture damage, hazardous chemicals, or inadequate ventilation, its residents tend to have poor health. Unhealthy homes have been linked to 20-30% of all asthma cases, over 20,000 lung cancer deaths, and a host of preventable fatal and nonfatal home injuries. Without proper maintenance, homes can become unhealthy and dangerous. Strong housing codes, well-trained enforcement officers, and municipal cooperation are necessary to protect residents. Property owners and ...
