Early childhood adversity like abuse and divorce is a root cause of many of the greatest public health challenges we face today. But doctors don’t even screen children for exposure to adversity. That’s changing in California, thanks to Dr. Nadine Burke Harris and other child advocates. As of Jan. 1, 2020, almost 100,000 physicians in 8,800 clinics will be reimbursed for routinely screening Medi-Cal patients for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), in an effort California hopes will help prevent ongoing ACEs-related stress and disease. Here are nine big questions surrounding the change.
1. What Is Childhood Adversity (ACEs) and its Impact?
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) include abuse, neglect, divorce, parental incarceration, parental mental illness, etc. These ...
Mounting health concerns over teen vaping recently led the U.S. Congress to raise the purchasing age for all tobacco products—including e-cigarettes—from 18 to 21. Now a national ban on many flavored e-cigarette products went into effect on Feb. 6, 2020. The ban covers a number of what some health experts call "kid-friendly flavorings," such as mint and fruit. Still, other flavors, such as menthol and tobacco flavorings, remain legal. The prohibited products won't be allowed to return to the market until or unless they get clearance from the Food and Drug Administration. That agency review could take months or years. By May 2020, U.S. e-cigarette companies will have to receive approval from the FDA to determine whether they're allowed to stay on the market. A big ...
The mouth is where good health begins. Proper oral health in childhood can set the stage for lifelong health. Conversely, poor oral health in childhood can contribute to diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions as an adult. This dynamic is even more critical for Latino kids, who face barriers in access to oral health care. Let’s use #SaludTues on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, to discuss oral health issues and share solutions and resources in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month in February, and show how everyone can get involved for good oral health! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: Why Oral Health Matters for All Kids
TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues
HOST: @SaludAmerica
CO-HOSTS: ...
Have you really explored our Salud America! website? We’re excited to announce our website—with daily news, stories, actions, and weekly podcasts and tweetchats to improve health equity for Latino and all families—has won a "Websites, Health Category, Silver Award” from the 2019 W³ Awards! The W³ Awards celebrate digital excellence by creators of all sizes and their websites, web marketing, video, and social content. They are sanctioned and judged by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts. Salud America! is led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, professor and director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at UT Health San Antonio. “We’re excited by the ongoing stamp of approval for our health equity communication work from groups like the Academy of ...
As the fate of the Affordable Care Act currently hangs in the balance and won't be decided until at least 2021, the amount of people with no health insurance coverage continues to rise. Latinos especially lack health coverage, which jeopardizes their health. "Going without coverage can have serious health consequences for the uninsured because they receive less preventive care; and delayed care often results in serious illness or other health problems," according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. "The financial consequences of not having insurance [can also lead] to difficulties paying medical bills and higher rates of medical debt among the uninsured."
What's the Fate of the Affordable Care Act?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, took effect in 2010. The U.S. Supreme ...
Cancer has long overtaken heart disease as the top killer of Latinos. Latinos have higher rates than their peers for many cancers. Latinos also experience cancer differently—from genetics to the environment to healthcare access. To raise awareness on World Cancer Day (Feb. 4), let’s use #SaludTues on Feb. 4, 2020, to tweet about the latest progress in cancer research, the importance of cancer screening, and tips for prevention and survivorship! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: Let’s Say No to Cancer
DATE/TIME: Noon CST (1 p.m. ET) Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues
HOST: @SaludAmerica
CO-HOSTS:Susan G. Komen (@SusanGKomen), Public Health Maps (@PublicHealthMap), Arroyo Vista FHC (@ArryoVistaFHC), Action Smoking & Health ...
Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, director of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio and a leading health disparities researcher, has been named to the Women in Cancer Research Council of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). The council organizes the activities of the members of the Women in Cancer Research group, including fostering career development and recognizing scientific achievements. They also advise AACR leadership on issues of concern to women investigators. Ramirez will serve on the council for a three-year term starting December 2019. “I’m very excited to serve the AACR in this role. I hope to advance the role of women—including those who are racially/ethnically diverse—in cancer research across the continuum from the lab to survivorship," Ramirez said. ...
Did you know that Latinos comprise less than 7.6% of clinical trial participants? This means that researchers have less chances to develop new cancer treatments for this population, which suffers a heavy burden of certain cancers, obesity, and mental health issues. Join us and use #SaludTues on Jan. 21, 2020, to tweet about how to increase Latino participation in clinical trials to prevent health disparities, in celebration of the quickly approaching Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference: WHAT: #SaludTuesTweetchat: Engaging Latinos in Clinical Trials
DATE/TIME: 1-2 p.m. EST (Noon-1 p.m. CST), Tuesday, January 21, 2020
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues
HOST: @SaludAmerica
CO-HOSTS: FDA Minority Health & Health Equity ...
Latino children are less likely to have their vision tested compared to their peers. From 2016 to 2017, only 58.6% of Latino children ages 3 to 5 had taken a vision test from a health professional, according to new CDC data. "Childhood vision screenings may provide early detection of vision disorders and opportunities for subsequent treatment," the authors say.
Latino Eye Health Risk Factors
In addition to Latino disparities, screening rates also were affected by differences in socioeconomic status, parental education, and healthcare access: Children living in families with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level were about 10% less likely to have their vision tested.
Children whose parents had the equivalent of a high school diploma or less were almost 20% less ...
