Health Disparities
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that "relatively little progress has been made toward the goal of elininating racial/ethnic disparities" among a wide range of health indicators.
Although Americans are healthier today, the gaps between minority and white groups remain nearly the same as they did a decade ago. For example, the mortality rate for African Americans is approximately 1.6 times higher than that for white people-a ratio that is identical to the black-white mortality ratio in 1950. (Annals of Internal Medicine August 3, 2004 Volume 141 Issue 3)
Interested in on-site trainings in
cultural competency for healthcare workers?
Download our two-page brochure
to learn more about what we do.
Cultural Competency in Mental Health Seminar and Training
Not only are there dramatic disparities in health and health care between minorities and whites, but depression and anxiety disorders are disproportionately prevalent among economically disadvantaged populations, which are also disproportionately comprised of minorities. Unintentional racism has been shown to play a role in the misdiagnosis of mental disorders among minority populations, and in all areas of mental health treatment.
The Diversity Center began to address the issue of mental health disparities by conducting a Cultural Competency in Mental Health seminar on May 30, 2007, and developed a curriculum that will be available for on-site training at specific organizations. All of this is made possible through the generous support of the Fairview/Lutheran Foundation. For more information, contact Tonae Bolton at 216-752-3000 or tbolton@diversitycenterneo.org
Cultural Competency Training for Healthcare Professionals
The Aetna Foundation awarded funding in 2005 to the Diversity Center to develop a cultural competency training module that could be customized for use with local healthcare professionals. The Diversity Center developed and tested this curriculum on groups of staff and volunteers at Planned Parenthood and Lake West hospital system, determining it to be effective in assisting healthcare providers work successfully with people of diverse backgrounds and to meet the needs of their patients. This curriculum is available for use in on-site training for local healthcare organizations.
The Diversity Center has created a Healthcare Resource Directory that will allow us to work more collaboratively in reaching our communities' common goal: achieving more culturally competent health care in Northeast Ohio.
By clicking on the above link you can see what organizations in Northeast Ohio are working on in the area of health care disparities and cultural competency.
This resource tool is continuously evolving; we invite you to join this coalition as we work to increase the quality of healthcare for all. Please email your information to tbolton@diversitycenterneo.org to be included in the resource tool.
For more information, contact Tonae Bolton at 216-752-3000 or tbolton@diversitycenterneo.org
