America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Policy Recommendations
As the federal-state program providing access to essential health care to over 77 million low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities, Medicaid has a unique opportunity to address the social risk factors that disproportionately impact these vulnerable populations. Caused by the socioeconomic conditions in which we live, learn, work, and play, these socioeconomic barriers or “social determinants of health” include inadequate access to nutritious food, lack of affordable housing, lack of convenient and efficient transportation options, limited opportunities for quality education and meaningful employment, limited broadband access, and more (Read the full report here).
Drawing on interviews with grassroots leaders from across the country, this report explores how the political landscape, funding, staff skills, leadership, and partnerships influence the ability of community-based organizations to work effectively with public health agencies to address health inequities and racial injustices.
What we heard from the grassroots leaders we spoke to was a tremendous openness to strengthening their own organizations and the public health institutions they partnered with to learn, grow, and become ever more effective in their efforts to achieve more equitable health outcomes. We also uncovered challenges grassroots organizations and health agencies face. Here, we articulate the structural factors, the organizational practices, and ways of navigating partnerships and community engagement that have facilitated grassroots organizations and health agencies working together to advance health equity.
This paper was made possible by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Download full publication: Partnering for health equity: Grassroots organizations on collaborating with public health agencies
In January/February 2015, the National Voices Project (NVP) conducted the Boys and Young Men of Color (BYMOC) survey, in partnership with the National Collaborative for Health Equity (NCHE). The survey was administered by GfK, an international survey research organization that maintains KnowledgePanel, a nationally representative, web-enabled panel of adults 18 years or older across the United States.
Some key findings in the report includes:
- The majority of adults who work and volunteer with children (59%) believe the term “boys and young men of color” refers only to African Americans.
- African American, Hispanic, and White adults hared the same predominant perception: almost two-thirds believe that “boys and young men of color” refers only to African Americans.
Read the full Impact Report (PDF)
In January/February 2015, the National Voices Project (NVP) conducted the Girls and Young Women of Color survey, in partnership with the National Collaborative for Health Equity (NCHE). The survey was administered by GfK, an international survey research organization that maintains KnowledgePanel, a nationally representative, web-enabled panel of adults 18 years or older across the United States.
Some key findings in the report includes:
- Overall, respondents perceived a greater proportion of negative bias in the media for African American, Arab/Arab American and Latino girls/young women than for American Indian/Alaskan Native, White, Asian/Asian American and Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander girls/young women.
- Positive bias in the media for girls and young women was perceived infrequently for all racial/ethnic groups, though most for White girls and young women.
- Respondents of color indicated the media portrays girls of color in negative ways (as criminals, poor and violent) more often than White girls compared to White respondents.
(Read the Full Impact Report PDF)