Hamilton Community Health Network’s Post

Building Bridges: Black History and Equity in Community Healthcare Community health centers (#CHCs) are essential in providing accessible and affordable healthcare services to underserved populations. In Massachusetts, CHCs proactively promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) within their organizations with creative initiatives that support inclusion. The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (MLCHC) is a valuable resource, offering guidance and support to community health centers in their #DEIB efforts. We understand the historical and present-day challenges associated with equity as it relates to institutional racism, and with respect to Black History Month, we encourage all healthcare leaders to ensure that black voices and perspectives are represented and included beyond the acknowledgment of this month, minimizing barriers that will hinder inequitable practices and a healthy workplace. As an organization, we honor Black individuals' accomplishments and resilience as we recognize their impact on society. If your organization is a Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers member, you can learn more about DEIB support by contacting Kirby Valentin, MPH, Grants & Contracts Manager/DEIB Lead, at kvalentin@massleague.org. #blackhistorymonth #blackhealthmatters #healthequity #healthjustice #inclusionmatters #culturalcompetence #diversityinhealthcare #healthequitynow #blackwellness #healthforall #blackexcellence #blackhealth #equitablehealthcare The Castle Group Health Equity Compact

Black History Month serves as a poignant backdrop for the Nation of Lifesavers campaign, aligning the principles of empowerment, community engagement, and health equity. As we celebrate the rich heritage and resilience of the Black community, the American Heart Association recognizes the importance of fostering heart health education and building a legacy of health. Why is learning CPR important for Black Americans? Black Americans have the highest incidence of cardiac arrest outside of the hospital and are significantly less likely to survive. Cardiac arrest in Black neighborhoods is associated with alarmingly low treatment and survival rates and studies have shown lower rates of both bystander CPR and bystander AED use in these neighborhoods. We need to change this trajectory. #BlackHistoryMonth2024 #AHALife #AmericanHeartAssociation #NationOfLifesavers #TheMoreYouKnow

Here's the Alliance's statement for #BlackHistoryMonth, talking about some of the ways we're learning, listening and taking action on Black health and wellbeing, at our organization, in partnership with our comprehensive primary health care members across Ontario, and why that work matters to #BlackHealth, #heathequity and improving health outcomes for present and future generations of Black communities ----> https://lnkd.in/gTp6Hkxs

**Honoring the Past, Building a Healthier Future: A Juneteenth Reflection** As we commemorate Juneteenth, remember the ongoing fight for health equity for African Americans in the US. Historic health disparities, like alarming maternal mortality rates, expose systemic issues that demand our continuing attention! ❣ We honor the work of ancestors who persevered through emancipation, discrimination, and immense challenges to build strong communities. Their resilience lives on in the vibrant spirit, people, and organizations we see in many underserved communities today. 📣 But the fight isn't over. Remember AFTER Juneteenth to: ➡ Demand change: Advocate for policies that address racial bias in healthcare and ensure all communities have access to quality care. ➡ Amplify Black voices: Support Black healthcare professionals, researchers, community leaders, and organizations working to dismantle health disparities. ➡ Educate ourselves: Learn more about the history of racism in healthcare and ongoing efforts to achieve equity. Find an organization in YOUR community to partner with. ❣ Together, we can build healthcare systems that better serve everyone. #Juneteenth #HealthEquity #BlackHealthMatters #CommunityStrength

In commemorating Black History Month, I reflect on the intersectionality of my role (both in time and profession) in health, equity, and the lived experiences of historically marginalized communities. This month, let's not only honor the trailblazers who paved the way but recommit ourselves to dismantling systemic inequities. By acknowledging its breath and scale, demanding we center a health equity lens in how we define success, and driving policy changes, we lay the foundation for a more equitable (and compassionate) healthcare (and educational, housing, justice, etc.) system. Together, we are the architects for the change we need to see. #BlackHistoryMonth #HealthEquity #BetheChange

February is a time to honor both #BlackHistoryMonth and #AfricanHeritageandHealthWeek. According the National Health Interview Survey, a Yale study, and Dr. Cesar Caraballo-Cordovez: "Young and middle-aged Black adults had a burden of chronic conditions equivalent to people from other racial and ethnic groups aged 5-10 years older."⁠ ⁠ We're working to address disparities in healthcare that disproportionately affect Black communities. We're celebrating the rich culture of African Heritage, as we advocate for better health outcomes for those living with chronic illnesses. Together, we can create a future where health equity is a reality for all. ⁠ ⁠ More from the quoted study: https://lnkd.in/eQUGbiwU

Juneteenth is an important milestone in the ongoing struggle for racial equity, a value central to our efforts at New Futures. As we pause to commemorate this significant moment in history, we stand in solidarity with communities furthest from justice. Use this guide to Juneteenth events in the DMV to make your own plans to celebrate: https://ow.ly/5uBg50Skpb6

All of it. Every single word. Line by line in accuracy.

Next week we'll be attending the Connecticut Health Foundation's 25th Anniversary Celebration and excited to hear Linda Villarosa speak. Her book, "Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on Health in America" provides a clear explanation why Black mothers and babies are dying at such an alarming rate.   "Income, education, determination, and self-empowerment can help individual Black Americans but cannot entirely erase the negative effects of centuries of discrimination, and ongoing bias, on the health of African Americans. To put it in the plainest terms, from birth to death the impact on the bodies of Black Americans of living in communities that have been harmed by long-standing racial discrimination, of a deeply rooted and dangerous racial bias in our health-care system, and of the insidious consequences of present-day racism affects who lives and who dies. These factors create physical vulnerability and systemic disadvantages that education, income, and access to health care cannot erase. This inequality, born more than four hundred years ago and embedded in every structure and institution of American society, including the health-care system, is driving our country’s poor national health outcomes relative to the rest of the developed world." - Linda Villarosa #healthequity #birthjustice #infantmortality #racism #safesleep #suddenunexpectedinfantdeath

During Black Maternal Health Week, we celebrate the strength and resilience of Black birthing people. We acknowledge the joy they bring to the world, the challenges they face, and the systemic racism that disproportionately impacts their health outcomes. Our commitment is not only to raise awareness, but also to advocate for an intersectional approach, acknowledging that the solutions must address the full range of social, political, economic, and environmental factors that affect Black mother's health outcomes. When we support Black birthing people, we uplift entire communities. #BlackMaternalHeathWeek #BMHW2024 #HealthEquity #SupportBlackMothers #IntersectionalApproach #WholesomeManagement