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 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 Latest

Joint Center Joins with Congressional Tri-Caucus in Seeking Comprehensive Health Care Reform

On June 9, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Health Policy Institute joined leaders of the Congressional Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander Caucuses at the U.S. Capitol to announce legislation to address health disparities, the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2009. Rep. Barbara Lee, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, cited comments from Dr. Brian Smedley on the importance of having comprehensive strategies to achieve equity in health care as part of health reform. Click here to view a webcast of the event, and click here to view the press release.

Families USA Releases Issue Brief on How CHIP Reauthorization Addressed Health Disparities

The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA): Addressing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities examines four key provisions in the new law: investing in outreach, increasing access for legal immigrant children and pregnant women, increased funding for interpretation and translation services, and establishing new quality of care measures. This June issue brief also includes action steps for advocates.

Getting to Universal Coverage and Access: A Congressional Briefing Cosponsored by Families USA and the Congressional Tri-Caucus

During a briefing on May 27, 2009, key experts explored the importance of achieving universal coverage and access as a critical step toward health equity. The current debate in Congress about how to improve health and health care in our nation presents a historic opportunity to address fundamental inequities and move us closer to the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities. See presentations by panelists and background materials.

Congressional Briefing on Addressing the Needs of Young Men of Color  
 
On May 15, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Health Policy Institute held a congressional briefing that outlined reforms in health and social policy that would significantly improve the life opportunities of young men of color. Former Congressman and current Oakland Mayor Ronald V. Dellums led a discussion on how the needs of this population could be addressed in current federal legislation and the role that communities play in improving life opportunities.

For more information, click here.

Dr. Brian D. Smedley Testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee
 
The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing, Making Health Care Work for American Families: Improving Access to Care, on Tuesday, March 24, 2009. The hearing examined racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities in access to health care, and the role of Medicare, Medicaid, and the health care workforce in addressing these disparities.
 
To read Dr. Smedley's testimony, click here. For additional information on the hearing, click here.

Families USA Fact Sheet on Health Reform and Disparities in Health Coverage

Health Care Reform: Critical to Closing the Gap for Communities of Color presents a more in-depth look at data on the uninsured, which reveal alarming racial and ethnic disparities in health coverage. These data supplement data from the organization's latest national report on the uninsured, Americans at Risk: One in Three Uninsured. (March 2009)

Internship and Fellowship Opportunities

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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