NCLR Summit Highlights Community Advocacy as Critical to Improving Latino Health

NCLR SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AS CRITICAL TO IMPROVING LATINO HEALTH
San Antonio forum focuses on innovative efforts throughout nation to build healthy communities

SAN ANTONIO—Public health experts, community leaders and government officials came together at the NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Health Summit in San Antonio September 22–23 to discuss ways to improve Latino health outcomes and address how the built environment—the places we live, work and play—affect our health. Speakers shared ideas and best practices on such issues as helping those newly insured under the Affordable Care Act find medical care, working with grocery stores to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and advocating for healthier options in housing and schools.

“The places where we live affect our quality of life—particularly our mental and physical health. A neighborhood that has no sidewalks or parks, or that has poor air quality, for example, discourages physical activity and can damage health. We must empower communities to address barriers to good health so more people can exercise, eat right and get the medical care they need,” said Delia Pompa, Senior Vice President, Programs, NCLR.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), how communities are designed and built contributes to public health challenges like asthma, obesity and heart disease, all prevalent conditions among Latinos. Communities that advocate for changes such as requiring school bus drivers to turn off their engines when idlingcan improve air quality and reduce medical emergencies for people with asthma. Neighborhoods with sidewalks and bike trails offer more opportunities for exercise and make it easier for people to maintain a healthy weight and reduce their risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

San Antonio, which is nearly two-thirds Latino, is located in Bexar County, where CDC data show that 65 percent of the adults are overweight or obese. To bring down obesity levels, the city has launched a bike share program, worked with restaurants to develop healthier menu items, installed more fitness equipment in public spaces and strengthened physical education resources in schools. From 2010 to 2012, obesity rates in San Antonio and Bexar County dropped from 35.1 percent in 2010 to 28.5 percent.

“We commend the work of our colleagues here in San Antonio for helping residents become healthier and more active. Change is hard, but communities that create opportunities to engage people in good nutrition and regular exercise are going to see better health outcomes. Through the NCLR Health Summit, we were able to spotlight real-world examples of community advocacy that have changed people’s lives for the better,” said Pompa.

Participants heard from Cara James, Director of the Office of Minority Health, Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Jose Plaza, National Director for Latino Engagement, Enroll America, among others. In addition to sessions on grassroots and digital advocacy, representatives from community-based organizations shared lessons learned in how to provide health information and services to Latinos. Among other topics, community health care experts presented on the following:

• Using the promotores de salud (community health workers) model to effectively educate Latinos on such issues as diabetes, nutrition and depression
• Working with school communities to positively impact health, emphasizing Latino cultural strengths and providing services to the entire family
• Being culturally sensitive and appropriate by offering information and services in multiple languages and presenting it in ways that these diverse communities can identify with

Please visit the NCLR website to learn more about Latino health and nutrition and access the Health Summit agenda and the newly released “NCLR 2015 Profiles of Latino Health” series. For more information or to interview one of NCLR’s health experts, please contact Kathy Mimberg at kmimberg@nclr.org or (202) 776-1714.

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

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