#SaludTues Tweetchat 5/1: Racism and its Alarming Impact on Mental Health


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Racism can crush a person’s mental health. In fact, racism negatively affects mental health because it causes depression, anxiety, and heightened psychological stress in those who experience it, research shows. How can we help Latinos and other communities of color who experience racism every day? To celebrate Mental Health Month in May, let’s use #SaludTues on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, to tweet strategies to reduce racism, help those who experience racism, and boost mental health in communities of color! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: Racism and its Alarming Impact on Mental Health TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, May 1, 2018 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: Dr. Silvia L. Mazzula, executive director, Latina ...

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Apply for Up to $2.5 Million to Study How to Make Health a Shared Value


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Evidence for Action, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is seeking research proposals for up to $2.5 million to study innovative ways to "make health a shared value." This "shared value" involves individual, family, and community factors to renew a societal commitment to health and health equity. The new funding aims to understand what drives and enhances these values. Proposals, being sought for differing budgets of up to $2.5 million for up to 48 months of work, could use data from placed-based initiatives to see the effect on mindsets, sense of community, or civic engagement, and the impact on population health. "We seek evidence on the extent to which...mindsets and expectations, sense of community, and civic engagement can be changed through ...

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How to Rebuild Police-Community Trust by Tackling Trauma


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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 ...

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Report: How to Promote Health Equity for Latinos


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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 ...

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


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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," ...

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Salud America! Wins International Marketing and Communications Awards


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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, ...

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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 ...

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Salud America! Is Thankful for You!


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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 ...

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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, ...

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