Summary of Promising Programs to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

researched and compiled by Eric Jacobson, Sarah McCloskey, Erin Kennedy, and Michele Sloan
originally published in 2004

Other Sources | Health Conditions | System-wide Inerventions | Specific Ethnic Groups

Native Americans

last updated November 29, 2007

Background

African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Alaskan Natives make up almost one third of the U.S. population. Within these racial and ethnic groups, about half of each respective population could be considered poor or near poor. When looking at healthcare data, it is a common trend that members of ethnic and minority groups have, in general, higher rates of disease and lower rates of seeking care. Furthermore, higher percentages of these groups are on Medicaid or without insurance. Demographically, minority groups impacted by healthcare disparities are concentrated in several locations, mainly in the southwest, but in other states as well.* Because of the importance of cultural competence and community building in order to eliminate disparities, many programs and organizations have emerged that target eliminating disparities for specific racial and ethnic groups.

*“Key Facts: Race, Ethnicity, and Medical Care”. Kaiser Family Foundation. January 2007.
www.kff.org/minorityhealth/upload/6069-02.pdf

American Indians and Alaska Natives Program – This program promotes the health and well-being of American Indians and Alaska Natives by pursuing research, training, continuing education, technical assistance, and information dissemination within a biopsychosocial framework that recognizes the unique cultural contexts of this population. Programs to which these native peoples are exposed include the Center for Native American Telehealth and Tele-education, the Center on Native Elder Health Disparities, Project EXPORT, and other projects that deal with areas in the mental health field. aianp.uchsc.edu

Spirit of EAGLES –This is the American Indian/Alaska Native Leadership Initiative on Cancer, which seeks to address comprehensive cancer control through partnerships with tribes, the Network for Cancer Control Research among native populations, and multiple cancer centers. Methods include education, advocacy, building social infrastructure, increasing clinical trials, compiling quality-of-care studies, and improving surveillance and data collection. cancercenter.mayo.edu/native.cfm

Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health – Housed in Maryland, the CAIH has centers nationwide aimed at improving the health status and the health awareness of American Indian populations. This center does this through research projects, service initiatives, and training opportunities for American Indians who want to enter the health field. One of the projects of this center is the Family Spirit Project, which is an in-home educational and care service to young families. www.jhsph.edu/caih

For more information, e-mail Eric Jacobson or call him at 302-831-1711.

photo on this page courtesy of the Administration on Aging