How to Rebuild Police-Community Trust by Tackling Trauma


equal justice trauma implicit bias training

Minorities don't trust police. Police don't trust minorities. You can see this dynamic in any viral video of police-associated violence across the nation. What is harder to see is how this "fraught relationship" impacts the mental, emotional, and behavioral health of both police officers and minorities like Latinos, according to a trustnottrauma.org report. That's why a new program is taking a new approach—trauma training—to rebuild police-community trust and relationships in Newark, N.J. Why Newark? Communities rely on police departments to "protect and serve." The police, in turn, rely on community support and cooperation. But this model doesn't always work in harmony, according to RAND. Newark (34% Latino) is a prime example. In 2011, New Jersey's American Civil ...

Read More

Report: How to Promote Health Equity for Latinos


latino family happy

Imagine a world where every person has the opportunity to attain full health potential—with no disadvantages due to race, money, etc. That is health equity. Unfortunately, Latinos and other people of color often struggle with health inequity as a result of poverty, structural racism, and discrimination. This causes gaps in how long Latinos live and how they struggle with disease and health, compared to their peers, according to the new Communities in Action: Pathways to Health report from thew National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The new report does have some good news: Communities have agency to promote health equity. However, community-based solutions are necessary but not sufficient. Supportive public and private policies at all levels and ...

Read More

Poll: More than 3 in 4 Latinos Say Latinos Face Discrimination


Latin family sitting in the street

Three in four U.S. Latinos (78%) believe Latinos face discrimination in America today, compared to 92% of blacks and 55% of whites who say they face discrimination, according to a new poll. Who is doing the discriminating? Nearly half of Latinos (47%) believe personal prejudice is the bigger problem. A smaller amount (37%) say say discrimination based in laws and government policies is the bigger problem. About 14% say they're equally problematic. The data is from a new poll by National Public Radio (NPR), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "Basically what we have found is that discrimination is a type of stressful life experience that has negative effects on health similar to other kinds of stressful experiences," ...

Read More

Salud America! Wins International Marketing and Communications Awards


mobile social media tablet communication

We at Salud America! care about improving Latino health. That’s why we're excited to announce we have won three Communicator Awards for our efforts to promote awareness of and solutions to Latino health issues! 2017 Communicator Award of Excellence, Content & Marketing Campaign—Branded Social Campaign, Salud America! Latino Health Campaign 2017 Communicator Award of Distinction, Website (Health), Salud America! 2017 Communicator Award of Distinction, Copy or Writing for Websites, Salud America! Communicator Awards, presented by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, honor international marketing and communications that "transcends innovation and craft" and made a "lasting impact." Salud America!, formerly called SaludToday, is led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, ...

Read More

New Grant Awarded to Help Latino Immigrant Health



Latinos face many inequities in attaining quality and affordable healthcare. Cultural and language barriers are often in place keeping many Latinos, especially Latino immigrants, from getting the healthcare that they need. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded over $950,000 in funds to George Washington University to research health disparities among the Latino immigrant and refugee communities. “The changing demographics of the U.S. population in which recent immigrants are playing a key role in population growth have and will continue to exert a major influence on the course of health disparities,” the grant abstract stated. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, connect ...

Read More

Salud America! Is Thankful for You!


Thanksgiving thank you gracias

YOU are the reason we are so thankful this Thanksgiving. Thank you for visiting our blog, reading our posts, and most of all for your strong interest in improving Latino health! The Salud America! team, led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, is also thankful for the opportunity to drive messages of healthy change to inspire Latinos across the nation. We're also thankful for some recent recognition from peers. A few weeks ago we were named Best Health Advocate Reaching Latino(a)s Through Social Media by LATISM (Latinos in Social Media), a nonprofit promoting Latino issues. The national Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts also just named us winners of two W³ awards for digital ...

Read More

Pennsylvania Group Helps Latino College Students



Many millennials have been the beneficiary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program which allows certain undocumented immigrants who entered the country before their 16th birthday and before June 2007 to receive a renewable two-year work permit and exemption from deportation. However, many young immigrants “feel alone” or are unaware of their options during the immigration process, Al Día News, reports. Obstacles ranging from a lack of access and information to a lack of healthcare and public schools impede the academic progress of many undocumented students. Even a lack of knowledge about college or college-access programs have been obstacles for many. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, ...

Read More

New Americans Are Benefiting from the ACA



Open Enrollment for the Health Care Marketplace began on November 1. To date, more than 20 million Americans have obtained health care coverage since the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Latinos and other racial and ethnic minorities have achieved some of the largest gains during this time. New citizens, those from other countries who have obtained citizenship in the U.S., have also “gained the security provided by having high quality health insurance,” the Administration for Children & Families (ACF) announced. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, connect with others, and get involved. According to the ACF, healthy refugees and immigrants are more likely to ...

Read More

Racial Disparity Program Advances in NC


Silhouette of a refugees family with children immigrant

Local and national events have pushed the subject of race, equality, and equity to the top of the city of Ashville, NC’s (6% Latino population) political agenda. In a response to widespread public acclaim, city officials have put forth an ambitious $433,000 initiative to establish an Office of Equity and Diversity as well as a plan for a racial disparity study of their community. Ashville’s City Council will review the plan, which is set to cost the city $350,000, during meetings in September 2016. The newly funded Office of Equity and Diversity will cost the city $110,000 this year and nearly $150,000 annually going forward. Staff have yet to be hired for the new department. “Statistics and other evidence can be used to show decisions and practices have discriminatory ...

Read More