Oral

The US census predicts that by 2050, nearly one in three Americans will be of Hispanic origin. According to a recent Pew report, the Latino population has accounted for more than half of the overall population growth in the United States since 2000 and this increase is due more to natural increase than international migration. The data also shows that Latino communities are becoming more common all over the country with new communities growing in the south and northeast parts of the country. Because of the high incidence of obesity and type two diabetes in Latino communities as well as the youthful demographics that characterize the population, the need to find solutions that address these issues are critical to a healthy national future. This session will bring together leadership from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Salud America! Initiative and the California Endowment’s Healthy Eating Active Communities (HEAC) initiative to discuss community driven solutions to these important issues and to share strategies for building a national movement for a Healthier Nation.

Session Objectives: Describe impacts of obesity, diabetes and chronic disease in the Latino community and discuss its relevance from a national perspective. Describe community driven policy solutions with examples drawn from urban and rural communities. Discuss implications of community based primary prevention strategies will. Discuss cross-border strategies and their implications. Discuss strategies for policy change at a local, statewide and national level.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)