224325 Breaking down the silos to address youth health disparities: A social justice imperative

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Diane Edith Allensworth, PhD , National Center for Health Marketing, CDC, Division of Partneships and Strategic Alliances, Atlanta, GA
Collins O. Airhihenbuwa, PhD, MPH , Penn State University, University Park, PA
M. Elaine Auld, MPH, CHES , Society for Public Health Education, Washington, DC
Carmen J. Head, MPH, CHES , Society for Public Health Education, Washington, DC
Youth of color experience significantly higher prevalence of health disparities with regard to infectious disease, chronic health conditions, childhood injury, developmental delays, social/emotional and behavioral problems, as well as exposure to violence. Further, these same students experience an education system that is inequitable in providing safe schools, experienced and credentialed teachers, resources and funding. High poverty/high minority schools often are in inadequate rundown facilities; receive lower per-pupil spending allocations; have fewer advanced placement courses; use less credentialed/qualified teachers who are absent more often; and lack school safety. As we approach a new decade of Healthy People 2020 Objectives, our nation can no longer ignore the social justice imperative for health departments, local health care providers and local education agencies to break down silos to ensure that the health, education and developmental needs of all youth -- particularly minority youth -- are addressed. This presentation will outline the results of CDC-sponsored Youth Disparities Summit that engaged 20+ of the nation's experts in research, policy and practice related to health and education inequities in minority youth. During the two-day summit, experts developed policy and practice recommendations for addressing youth disparities in education, health care, health promotion, and chronic disease prevention (e.g. overweight/obesity, physical inactivity, tobacco, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted disease). Policies needed at the school, district and state levels and practical recommendations for breaking down silos among education, health service, and public/school sectors, as well as next steps for implementing the policies, also will be presented.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Advocacy for health and health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1) Articulate at least four policy or practice recommendations for achieving health equity in chronic disease or HIV/AIDs risk among minority youth at the state or local levels. 2) Discuss ways in which representatives from the education, health services and public/school health sectors can better collaborate across disciplines to address minority health and education disparities.

Keywords: Health Disparities, Children and Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Serve as co-chair of the Youth Disparities Summit, which is the basis for this presentation
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.