How is lack of health care coverage affecting access among API communities? How are Asian communities impacted by issues of environmental health, social equity, and health hazards? How are Asian American women impacted by cancer?
These are some of the questions that will be discussed at the first annual Asian Pacific Health Equity Conference, scheduled for 9am to 4pm on Saturday, May 2 at Portland Community College Southeast Center on SE 82nd and Division.
The API Health Equity Conference is organized by the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), a volunteer-led, member-based Pan-Asian group that works on advocacy issues. The event is made possible by a grant from the Northwest Health Foundation. Supporters also include United Way of the Columbia-Willamette and the API Health Network.
Four "Community Conversations" are scheduled throughout the day, and features public health experts who will address topics such as the uninsured, health disparities in Asian Pacific Islander communities, environmental justice, and policy approaches to solving health equity issues.
The event features keynotes by Marguerite Ro, Deputy Director of Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) and Oregon House Representative Mitch Greenlick, Chair of the House Committee on Health Care.
The event is free to the public; registration is required. Visit www.apano.org to register online or call 503-896-7560.
ABOUT APANO
Founded 10 years ago by community leaders from the Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Lao, and Filipino communities, APANO is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to civic involvement and Pan-Asian leadership development. As a Pan-Asian intergenerational advocacy organization, APANO is volunteer-led, membership-based, and issue-driven. The advocacy group brings together diverse Asian Pacific communities around issues that need to have an organized, assertive and influential pan-Asian/Pacific Islander voice. Learn more at www.apano.org
ABOUT THE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Marguerite Ro, DrPH, is the Deputy Director of Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), a national advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening policies, programs, and research to improve the health and well-being of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Her major responsibilities include program oversight and management for "Health Through Action for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders", a national initiative with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Mitch Greenlick (Democrat, House District 33) was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 2002. He serves as Chair of the House Committee on Health Care, a post he has held since 2007. In 1995 he was awarded the Presidential Award by the Association for Health Services Research for his life-time achievements in health services research.
WORKSHOP TOPICS AND SPEAKERS
The Uninsured: Community Responses to the Challenge of Health Care Access
Speakers: Linda Nilsen Solares, Executive Director, Project Access NOW
Holden Leung, Executive Director, Asian Health Services Center
Topics covered: What is the face of the uninsured among API communities? How is lack of health care coverage affecting access among API communities? What community responses are helping solve the problem?
Health Disparities in Asian Pacific Islander Communities
Speakers: Frances Lee Lin, Professor, Oregon Health and Sciences University
Hai Ta, Multnomah County Health Department
David Rebanal, Northwest Health Foundation
Topics Covered: Cancer rates in API women, Hepatitis B immunizations, and systemic barriers that limit API access to high quality health care.
Understanding Environmental Justice
Speakers: Kevin Raymond Odell, Organizing People, Activating Leaders
TBD, Multnomah County Health Equity Initiative
Topics Covered: What is Environmental Justice? How are API communities impacted by issues of environmental health, social equity, and health hazards in Portland Metro? What are the social determinants of health/health equity and how do they intersect with environmental justice? How can we create an equitable and sustainable city that is inclusive of all community members?
Got Equity? Putting Healthcare Equity into Law
Speakers: Liz Baxter, Archimedes Movement
Jo Ann Bowman, Executive Director, Oregon Action
Topics Covered: What is health equity? How does policy impact healthcare provision, regulation, systems, funding, and how does if contribute to/reinforce and/or ignore racial healthcare disparities? How can we use policy to eradicate healthcare disparities and increase equity for APIs?