Summary
The Asian American Health Initiative sponsored its first Asian American
Health Conference on May 5th, 2006. The Asian American Health Initiative
is part of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services—Office
of Minority and Multicultural Health. It was established to help eliminate
health disparities that exist between Asian Americans and their non-Asian
counterparts. Our purpose is to develop appropriate health programs
that meet the needs of a diverse group of Asian Americans within Montgomery
County.
The main purpose of the conference was to gather health care
professionals, community based organizational leaders, and health care
policy makers to discuss the various health disparities that affect
the Asian American community. Over 250 national, state, and local health
organizational leaders convened to present research and other information
on a broad spectrum of topics ranging from mental health to domestic
violence in the Asian American community. It also was intended as an
opportunity for to network with others involved in Asian American health.
Thusly titled, “Commitment to Change: Exploring Health Disparities
in the Asian American Community”, the conference addressed
the many challenges and barriers that the Asian American community
faces to obtain quality health care.
The conference opened with a three
standing drum dance and welcoming remarks from officials involved
in the health of Montgomery County residents. National issues affecting
Asian American health including immigration, lack of data, and refining
data for assessing health needs were addressed.
There were three panels
set to address the issues of healthcare access for Asian Americans.
The first panel discussed the barriers that Asian Americans face in
obtaining quality health care. A wide variety of health topics were
covered to include the roles of limited English proficiency, cultural
competency, and cultural challenges. The second panel addressed ways
to overcome these barriers to health care. Among the successful programs
that were presented, cancer and tobacco, hepatitis B, mental health,
diabetes, and domestic violence were addressed. National and local
public health leadership and policy was the topic of the third panel.
The Office of Minority Health under the Department of Health and Human
Services and the Maryland Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities
explained about existing programs and policies that have furthered
progress in dispelling health disparities.
At the luncheon, steering committee members were recognized for their
hard work and dedication to AAHI. The conference closed
with a ‘Call to Action’ on the part
of health care professionals and public health officials to help Asian
Americans navigate around the obstacles to obtaining health care access
and develop more programs that provide measurable improvement in the
health of Asian American communities.
For links to the full speaker presentations please visit conference
summary.
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