Access to and treatment for mental health issues is has long been a problem for many Latinos. According to a recent study, one in five Americans is believed to have a mental health condition at any given time. However, Latinos receive a lot less psychiatric care overall, including visits to psychiatrists, social workers, and psychologists. In an effort to combat the growing trend of a lack of access, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has awarded more than $44 million to increase the number of mental health providers and substance abuse counselors across the country. A recent announcement from HHS touted that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) would be funding 144 ...
Do you have a home or small urban garden? Compost pile? According to a new study, you may be helping the environment and reducing climate change. Researchers from the University of California at Santa Barbara studied how well-tended gardens for every family home in California may help increase the chance of the state reaching its goal of reducing emissions by 2020. The study reveals that anyone who gardens in their home or backyard could help contribute to reducing two pounds of carbon emissions for every pound of homegrown vegetables consumed. Latino's often miss out on gardening opportunities or fresh food access in their neighborhoods, studies show. Reducing access to growing healthy foods could also increase the high risks that Latino's already face in dealing with ...
City parks worker Michael Baldwin saw rampant physical inactivity and disease in San Antonio, Texas (68% Latino). To help, he wanted to attract people to existing health programs and services in city parks. Baldwin and his team, through local collaborations, developed Fit Pass, a city-wide scavenger hunt for wellness and physical activities. People can download a phone app or a bilingual Fit Pass passport that can be stamped for attending some of 2,300 activities across San Antonio parks, incentivizing Latino families to get physically active and play in parks. Physical Inactivity in San Antonio
Michael Baldwin, special projects manager with the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department (Parks Department) in San Antonio, Texas, has helped develop and implement ...
Latinos make up 15.1% of the population, yet account for 18.6% of pedestrian fatalities. Latinos face an age-adjusted pedestrian fatality rate 43% higher than whites, according to Dangerous by Design 2104. When working to promote walkability and create policies that promote walking, it is important to engage, empower and inform community members, organizations, and elected officials about equity, fairness, and justice. The Every Body Walk! Collaborative (EBWC) and partners developed the Social Justice Toolkit to identify key areas where walking and walkability can help to ease tensions, bridge divides, and address disparities within communities. “The best thing we can do for the safety of our children is to get them out of the car by building mixed-use, walkable ...
Cardenas, an Ontario-based grocery chain in Riverside County (47.9% Latino) that markets it's products to Latino shoppers, are now changing their store's checkouts, offering healthier snacks after listening to shoppers like Alejandra Padilla. Why? Padilla, a Latina mom of three, wants the checkouts to be filled with healthy convenient options like apple slices, nuts, trail mix and water, as many times she must deal with their kids wanting the unhealthy candy and soda's displayed at checkouts, she explained to Press Enterprise. Latinos are often more at risk for health problems like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and other diet-related diseases the American Heart Association reports, but encouraging healthier foods, may help play a part in decreasing diet-related ...
By Patti Suppe, P.E. Teacher, Loma Vista Middle School, Riverside, Calif.
SaludToday Guest Blogger At Loma Vista Middle School, we have a vision that all students will realize their unlimited potential. Our goal is for them to excel in all areas of their middle school education, from academics to physical fitness and co-curricular activities. As a physical education teacher, I know first-hand the importance of health and wellness in achieving this goal. That’s why we enrolled in the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program, funded in part by Kaiser Permanente in select U.S. cities, including Riverside. The Program has had a huge impact on our school achieving our wellness goals. This year, we were named one of America’s Healthiest Schools – and were ...
When it comes to mental health issues, many Latinos are plagued by a lack of access and the thought of cultural stigma and rarely seek assistance for issues such as depression. This can lead to isolation and further health problems, especially in the heavily Latino populated Sonoma County, Calif. (26% Latino population), The Press Democrat reports. At Sonoma State University, Francisco Vázquez a professor and president of the board of directors of the nonprofit Latino Service Providers-Sonoma County, believes he has found a way to bridge the cultural gap preventing Latinos from seeking help. Vázquez is behind a $1.18 million grant project aimed at identifying cultural practices that lead to improved mental and behavioral health. These practices include traditional healing arts, ...
Bilingual efforts in educating students about the benefits of living a healthy life are changing Colorado (21.3% Latino) charter schools statewide. The Colorado Health Foundation joined up with the Colorado League of Charter Schools to focus on health and wellness in schools. The way the program works is allowing nearby charter schools to collaborate with each other and create "pods" that are more sustainable, Rainey Wikstrom explained to Watchdog. Working in school wellness since 2004, Wikstrom has since then been a leader in increasing healthier school food, physical activity and teacher training for schools in the area. The program creates these hubs of health, allowing up to three charter schools to write a grant together, collaborate with each other and see what models ...
About $10 million worth of free flu shots are coming to Walgreens thanks to a collaboration between the drug store and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The effort, now in its seventh year, offers free flu shot vouchers to improve flu immunization rates among uninsured Americans. Latinos have the highest uninsured rates. Eligible individuals can call 866-994-6757 to find the nearest location where flu shot vouchers may be available. “Since 2010, this partnership has helped us make substantial strides in addressing disparities in flu vaccination coverage by providing free flu shots for more than 1.4 million people,” said Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, deputy assistant secretary for minority health and director of the HHS Office of Minority Health. “As the flu ...
