Welcome to the National Health Policy
Training Alliance for Communities of Color

Racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States continue to experience major differences in health status, treatment, and outcomes when compared to whites. The forces that contribute to health disparities are complex, ranging from broader societal issues such as poverty, racism, and hazardous environments, to health system factors such as lack of health care coverage, lack of workforce diversity, and a weakening safety net. Oftentimes, when vital health policies and programs are being debated, the voices of communities of color are left out.

The National Health Policy Training Alliance for Communities of Color was created to make clear the link between efforts to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities and the role of health policymaking, as well as to ensure that community leaders have the tools, information, and resources they need to address these issues. This initiative is a unique partnership between ACCESS Community Health & Research Center, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), Families USA, the Joint Center Health Policy Institute (HPI), the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, and the National Medical Association (NMA). It is generously funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

The overarching mission of the Alliance is to empower community leaders, elected officials, and journalists from communities of color with pertinent information about health policy developments in order to:

• expand their capacity to address and catalyze action on crucial health and health care issues;
• bolster the skills of leaders from communities of color to play a more influential role in shaping and creating health policies that are of relevance to their respective communities; and
• engage diverse leaders in national health policy development. 
  

The National Health Policy Training Alliance for Communities of Color will hold a health policy journalism training this August. 
Click here for more information.

So You Think You Know Minority Health? is a new interactive game from Families USA's Minority Health Initiative. Based on the classic Jeopardy game, it is designed to test your knowledge of the health disparities facing people of color in America today. Check it out.

The Latest

Joint Center Hosted Capitol Hill Briefing on Paternal Involvement in Pregnancy Outcomes

On May 20, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Health Policy Institute released a set of policy, research, and practice recommendations in a report from the Commission on Paternal Involvement in Pregnancy Outcomes. The briefing took place in the Rayburn Office House Building. For more information, please click here. (May 2010)

Families USA Publishes Brief on How Health Reform Will Help Eliminate Disparities

Moving toward Health Equity: Health Reform Creates a Foundation for Eliminating Disparities summarizes provisions that will expand access to care through Medicaid and community health centers, and that address health disparities by promoting language access, increasing workforce diversity, and reauthorizing the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. (May 2010)

Families USA Publishes Report on How Health Reform Will Help American Indians and Alaska Natives

Health Reform: Help for American Indians and Alaska Natives discusses changes made by the new health reform law, including the overdue reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and explains how these changes will benefit these two groups. (May 2010)

APIAHF Hosted Briefing on Disparities

The Asian and Pacific Islander Health Forum hosted a briefing, "Beyond Reform: Health Concerns and Disparities among America's Fastest Growing Populations," on May 6. Click here for more information. (May 6, 2010)

Health Care Reform: Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategies for Minority Communities

On April 30, the National Health Policy Training Alliance for Communities of Color held a day-long meeting in Dearborn, Michigan to discuss health reform. The discussion provided the community with national, state, and local perspectives on how key policies would address racial and ethnic health disparities. Click here for more information. (April 30, 2010)

Families USA Publishes Brief on How Health Reform Will Reduce Disparities

Reducing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: Key Health Equity Provisions discusses how health reform will improve language access and cultural competence, support community health centers, strengthen the federal Office of Minority Health, increase workforce diversity, and reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. (March 2010)

APIAHF Comments on OMH's National Plan for Action

During a recent public comment period, the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum provided suggestions on how the Office of Minority Health could strengthen the Draft National Plan for Action. The National Plan for Action describes the status of health disparities in our country and proposes 20 strategies for their elimination. To read the APIAHF's comments, click here.

Families USA Publishes Fact Sheet on Social Security
 
Building Blocks of Health Reform: The Social Security Example discusses how the Social Security program started out modestly but grew over time, as well as its importance to minority seniors. (March 2010) 

Each of the Health Policy Alliance partners sponsor various internship and fellowship programs for advocates, journalists, health providers, and students. Please contact the following individuals for information on their organization’s internship and fellowship programs:

• Families USA: Melissa Rosenblatt (mrosenblatt@familiesusa.org)
• National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials: Stephanie Ramirez (sramirez@naleo.org)
• National Medical Association: Byron Sogie-Thomas (bsogie-thomas@nmanet.org)
• The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies: Carla Gullat (cgullat@jointcenter.org)

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