Health Advocacy

Health Advocacy Initiative Mission Statement:
To educate, equip and empower APAMSA members to be advocates for, and leaders of policy and systems changes that improve the health of APA communities at national, state and local levels

Advocacy Goals:
  1. Expanding access to health care
  2. Increasing research and data collection on health issues and needs faced by APA communities
  3. Improving quality of health care through cultural competency, language access, and diverse workforce
  4. Empowering the APA community to be advocates for themselves
Facts:
1. APA experience a disparity in access, resulting in poorer health outcomes (Source: Commonwealth Fund 2001 Health Care Quality Survey , API Report 2009, LAC DPH, 2007)
  • 2 million APA do not have insurance in the US
  • 1 in 5 were uninsured at some pt in the past yr
  • Koreans have the highest rate of uninsured individuals-(33%) of any racial/ethnic group in the state – far outpacing the state average of uninsured adults (15%)
  • APA women have the lowest cancer screening rates and are usually diagnosed at a later stage compared to other ethnic groups; cancer is the leading cause of death
  • Koreans in LA County have cervical cancer incidence 2-3x the national avg
2. More research and data is needed to identify salient health issues and appropriate inverventions and solutions to those issues. It is difficult for elected officials to address the APA communityÂ’s health needs along with creating resolutions that would benefit those that need it the most when there is an absence of research and data about key issues (Source: APIAHF.org, API Report 2009)
Areas that need more research funding/awareness
  • Mental health (high prevalence, inadequate services/awareness)
  • APA women highest suicide rate in US for >65 age group
  • PTSD in SE Asian refugees
  • Domestic violence
  • Osteoporosis screening
  • Smoking among youth (highest increase in any racial group)
ACT NOW
  • Speak up for immigrants in health care reform!
  • Key priorities for immigrants are at risk of being left out of the final draft of health care reform legislation
  • Tax-paying, legal immigrants must currently wait 5-years before they can enroll in Medicaid
  • The Senate bill excludes undocumented immigrants from accessing the health care Exchanges
  • Improve funding and awareness for increased APA health data (also promote strategies such as bilingual interviewers, community-based research, translated interviews)
  • Increased de-aggregated federal commitment to data collection and reporting for minority populations
  • Educate, Equip, and Empower

Local Level

  • Establish Health Advocacy Officers at local chapters
  • Chapters will be eligible for ‘Best Health Advocacy ChapterÂ’ at the 2010 National Conference for their efforts/contribution
  • Develop and implement advocacy training events, health policy talks, toolkits for local chapters
  • Develop and implement responsibilities and expectations for APAMSA chapter HAO
National (building on other successful enterprises)
  • Make National priority
  • Youtube ‘public service announcementÂ’ (ala Yul Kwon 1000 Cranes of Hope)
  • Establish annual Advocacy Training Conference (like Hep B Conference)
  • Advocate/endorse (as a national organization) at least one piece of policy as it affects APA through consensus from APAMSA members