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.
Minnesota annually ranks as one of the healthiest states in the nation, but there still remains a wide gap in health outcomes among ethnic and racial minorities. To help address this, the Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has recently awarded approximately $4 million over the next three years to support initiatives aimed at reducing health inequities. “The challenges our state faces are multi-faceted and complex. A multi-sector approach is needed to close the gaps and improve the health of all Minnesotans,” said Janelle Waldock, vice president of community initiatives and health equity at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. “What inspires me is the number of organizations that want to step forward and play a role. Blue Cross is proud to join ...
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 community ...
According to a new report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that most infants in the United States do not receive flu vaccinations. While the number who are vaccinated has dramatically increased over the past decade, the report found that less than 45% between the ages of 6 months and 23 months are given the full flu vaccination. In 2002-2003, only 4.8% of infants overall were vaccinated. The rate has significantly increased in the past four years, a trend that experts support. Latino children were less likely than whites to be vaccinated. Due to the widespread disparities in the Latino community, this is not a surprising finding. “Prevention of influenza among infants and young children is a public health priority because of their high risk for ...
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded a $5.1 million grant to two graduate university programs in an effort to increase the number of Latino professors in the humanities programs at American colleges and universities. New York University and the University of Pennsylvania will partner on the program entitled “Pathways to Professoriate,” which seeks to prepare 90 students from Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) for Ph.D. programs over the next five years. “As the demographic profile of the U.S. changes, the country has a compelling interest in obtaining the full participation of previously underrepresented communities,” said Mariët Westermann, Vice President of the Mellon Foundation. “The past decade has seen considerable gains in doctoral degree attainment for ...
About 62% of all Latino undergraduate students are enrolled in “Hispanic-Serving Institutions” (HSIs), an indication of the critical role these schools play in retaining and graduating Latinos and creating an educated workforce, according to new data from Excelencia in Education. HSIs are accredited, degree-granting public or private higher education institutions with 25% or more full-time undergraduate Latino student enrollment. There are currently 435 HSIs in the US and Puerto Rico, an increase of 7% from 2013-14. Of the 18 states that have HSIs, over 80% are located in California, Texas and Puerto Rico; Indiana, Kansas, Ohio, and Washington each have at least one HSI in their respective state. “HSIs enroll about 1.75 million Latino students; this is an increase of ...
The open enrollment period to sign up for health coverage as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will end on Sunday, January 31. Latinos are still the largest uninsured group in the United States as 1 in 5 Latino adults are eligible for enrollment. According to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, there’s been a 50% upswing in traffic at the ACA website. However, according to a poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the majority of uninsured were unaware of the impending deadline. It was also discovered that virtually no one surveyed were aware that the fine for going uninsured rose to $695 per adult or 2.5% of the household’s income. “This is exactly what we envisioned all along would be the most important challenge for us,” said Andy Slavitt, ...
Even as the national unemployment rate has dropped, the outlook in Arkansas is still dreary. The underemployment rate in the state remains high with a large proportion of the state’s population (especially ethnic and racial minorities) stuck in low-wage jobs. According to a report from the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), 52% of the state’s population cope with the “new normal” situation of perpetual financial insecurity. Most are unable to build the savings needed for three months in the event of an emergency. For Latino households, the situations are especially harsh as many live below the federal poverty level, especially compared to white households. Arkansas placed 39th on a list of financial security among its residents in a report published by the ...
According to new research from the University of Pennsylvania, many Latinos, as well as other minorities, still perceive that their doctors do not care about them and that their medical care is not as good as it could be. Compared with whites, Latinos are less likely to trust the technical judgement and interpersonal competence of their doctors. “Most people who are immigrants or have some immigrant connection feel more disenfranchised from the health care system,” said Abigail Sewell, research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. Sewell used 2002 and 2006 General Social Surveys to determine that there is not only lower trust, but that the feelings of Latinos greatly are impacted by their beliefs that doctors do not take into consideration the circumstances of their ...
Sunday, January 31 is the last day for Latinos to register for health coverage as part of this open enrollment period in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Many groups are continuing to work with Latinos, still the largest group of uninsured individuals in the country, to help lower this number. Rev. Ernesto Barriguete, Pastor of Unidos por Cristo United Methodist Church in Grimesland, NC, has mobilized his congregation to assist with enrolling individuals. “As part of the church, we cannot neglect all the parts of a person or what makes a community,” he said. “We are part of everything. You know, family and social issues and economic and health issues, everything. It’s together.” According to the Commonwealth Fund, Latinos have the highest uninsured rates in North ...
