Join Komen’s Patient Navigation Training Program



Susan G. Komen, a national breast cancer research and advocacy organization, has launched its Navigation Nation interactive learning community for patient navigators – those who help guide cancer patients to overcome barriers toward quality healthcare.  The program brings individuals through a Patient Navigation Training Program and access to courses, webinars, and other educational events.  “The training program gives navigators the tools and resources to overcome barriers for those experiencing breast health inequities and provides a peer network and support system,” according to the Komen website.    Learn more about this free program and what it entails, and how you can join.   What is Komen’s Patient Navigation Training Program?  This program was designed ...

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How Many Latinos Graduate College?



About half of Latinos who enroll in a four-year college do not end up graduating, according to a new analysis from ¡Excelencia in Education!  Latinos’ college graduation rate (52%) also is lower than their White peers (65%).   How can we increase Latino college graduation rates?   Let’s dive into to the numbers and explore how to close the Latino education gap, and better support Latino students.    Latino College Graduation by the Numbers  28% of Latino adults (age 25 and older) currently have an associate degree or higher, compared to 48% of non-Latino White adults.  To better understand that gap, the new analysis from ¡Excelencia in Education! highlights 4 measures that track degree completion:  1. Graduation Rate: Total percentage of students who ...

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#SaludTues 7/11/23: How Do Latino Children Benefit from Preschool?



Over 3.5 million children participated in early childhood programs as of 2020.   Preschool and other early childhood education programs can greatly benefit children, especially Latino children.   In fact, studies have shown that low-income Latino kids who attended early education programs at age 4 attain stronger academic skills.   Let’s use #SaludTues on July 11, 2023, to explore early childhood education and how we can equitably ensure that its many benefits reach Latino children.   WHAT: #SaludTues: How Do Latino Children Benefit from Preschool?    TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. EST (Noon-1 p.m. CST), Tuesday, July 11, 2023.   WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues  HOST: Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio (@SaludAmerica)  CO-HOSTS: Public Health ...

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A Simplified Update on Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan


loan forgiveness

It’s been nine months since President Biden announced his student loan forgiveness plan, and a lot has happened since. Whether you’re for or against the forgiveness, information on the plan’s status can be confusing and overwhelming. So, here’s a simplified summary of where our nation stands on student loan forgiveness. Have Any Loans Been Forgiven? So far, only targeted groups have benefitted from loan forgiveness. The billions of dollars awarded to these groups account for just 1% of all federal student loan debt. Most borrowers have yet to benefit from forgiveness, and the current student loan debt amount sits at $1.7 trillion. What’s the Hold Up with Student Loan Forgiveness? Pushback on the loan forgiveness plan has occurred across the nation in many states, ...

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Build Health Equity with AHA’s Online Lessons and Toolkits


Man on computer

The American Heart Association (AHA) is working to boost health equity through a variety of online health lessons, called EmPOWERED to Serve. EmPOWERED to Serve includes over a dozen science-based toolkits and lessons covering health education and community advocacy. Toolkits are free and open to the public and can be reached on the EmPOWERED to Serve Health Lessons website. “The EmPOWERED to Serve health lessons offer a way to engage and motivate communities to create a culture of health,” according to the AHA website. Let’s dive into why these health lessons are a useful and how they can be beneficial for all! Health Disparities Among Communities Where you live can have a big impact on your health. In fact, our health is influenced by a variety of non-medical ...

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Child Literacy Concerns Following COVID-19 Pandemic


Little girl reading

COVID-19 certainly hurt the health of many, including Latinos. But the pandemic is also threatening the education of children, amid three years of school shutdowns, isolation, and continuing waves of cases. Many students are falling behind in reading, especially. In 2022, the average reading score at both 4th and 8th grade decreased by 3 points compared to 2019, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The National Assessment for Education Progress (NEAP), further highlights that while average 4th grade reading scores in 2022 were higher for Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Latino, and White students, Latino and Black students still had lower reading average scores than White students. Let’s examine the literacy issues children face, the factors that ...

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What Does Latino Parenting Look Like Today?



From mental health to education and preparing children for adulthood, moms and dads have a lot to think about with how they parent. In fact, 40% of parents with children younger than 18 say they are extremely or very worried that their children might struggle with anxiety or depression at some point, according to the new Parenting in America Today report from the Pew Research Center. Parents worries stem from the rise of a youth mental health crisis and the compounding stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, which deeply impacted Latinos. Let’s explore the full report on parenting and how it impacts Latinos! The Top Parental Concern Mental health is the top concern for parents, according to the Pew report. That worry is felt “more acutely” by Latino parents. “42% of ...

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How Health Confianza is Improving Health Literacy in San Antonio



Health literacy is defined by the CDC as “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.” In today’s world, health literacy is crucial for community members and health professionals, alike, to make everyday decisions and achieve health equity. However, many underserved and racial/ethnic communities around the country face barriers to health equity including access to health care, financial instability, and housing/transportation insecurity endangering their health. That is why Jason Rosenfeld, DrPH, MPH, and Melanie Stone, DrPH (c), MPH, MEd are helping build Health Confianza – a partnership between UT Health San Antonio, The University of Texas San ...

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5 Ways to Practice Healthy Social Media Habits


Latino couple scrolling on phones.

Social media plays a large role in society today. People use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok and many other platforms as daily sources for education, entertainment, work, and more. However, can spending too much time on social media have a negative impact? Researchers have continuously studied how social media affects mental health. While the results are mixed, heavy use of social media can contribute to negative factors including cyberbullying, low self-esteem, and social isolation. This is important for Latinos, 98% of whom own a smartphone and who are the highest-percentage users of Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, and WhatsApp among racial/ethnic groups. “Hispanics spent almost two more hours per week watching videos, streaming audio and social networking ...

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