The following highlights initiatives and events that seek to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities.Denver: The National Native American AIDS Prevention Center is working with agencies to train public health workers in hopes of reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS among American Indians, Indian Country Today reports. Earlier this year, CDC awarded NNAAPC with a $50,000 grant to facilitate two-day seminars to help other agencies and organizations with proper training and how to obtain needed resources. The seminars include training on grant writing, Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Interventions readiness and the Safety Counts program, according to Indian Country Today (Herrmann, Indian Country Today, 10/10).
Grand Rapids, Mich.: The Greater Grand Rapids Children's Environmental Health Initiative this week sponsored an informational forum that addressed children's exposure to environmental toxins and the link to racial disparities, the Grand Rapids Press reports. According to Michigan Department of Community Health, asthma deaths occur in black children at a rate six times that of white children. The event featured guest speaker LeRoy Graham, an expert on the link between racial inequality and asthma. The goal of the event was to educate families on hazards inside and outside of the home, as well as behaviors that can exasperate asthma (King, Grand Rapids Press, 10/11).
Norman, Okla.: The Norman Planning Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a plan to build a 67,000 square-foot health care clinic to serve the Absentee Shawnee tribe, the Norman Transcript reports. The facility will be designed by an American Indian architectural firm and will be located in the Little Axe area of the city, near the tribe's elders. The first phase is planned to be completed by 2010, with the second phase that could expand the center to about 98,000 square feet by about 2013. The final phase of the development will include an assisted living center and a senior center (Cole-Frowe, Norman Transcript, 10/11).
Seattle: The African American Reach & Teach Health on Oct. 18 will host a discussion on breast cancer aimed at black teenage girls, the Seattle Medium reports. The event will feature speakers and panel experts who will discuss the effects of breast cancer, access to breast and cervical screening, self-care, advocacy, and genetic and environmental risk factors. Cancer survivors also will share their stories (Seattle Medium, 10/15).
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