Health Disparities Grantees
Health Disparities
A person’s poor health can often be the result of social, economic, and environmental factors. Many racial and ethnic groups bear an unequal burden of disease, disability and death. Racism, poverty, unequal access to good healthcare, and safe neighborhoods all contribute to disparities. Research shows that in Massachusetts Asian, Black, Latino, Native Americans, and new immigrant groups are less healthy than whites.
In Massachusetts, minorities in the health professions are smaller in numbers compared to the size of their population. Research shows that early detection and treatment by providers can be influenced by a patient’s race, ethnicity, or language. A patient feels welcome when they feel those caring for them understand their culture and beliefs. Treatment is more likely to be successful when healthcare providers share similar racial, ethnic and language backgrounds with their patients.
Health Disparities Grants Initiative
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) identified three key areas that target gaps in health status and outcomes. The three areas are quality improvement in service delivery, workforce development, and social determinants. In November 2007, thirty-five(35) grants were awarded to address the gaps. Grants went to twenty-nine (29) health centers, hospitals, community organizations, neighborhood and faith-based groups, academic settings, and boards of health statewide. Each three year grant allows the agencies to develop or expand services and programs to address the health needs of racial and ethnic groups. Several of the grants called demonstration grants, allow for planning and research activities. Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR) is the project evaluator and will publish a Year One Project Report in summer, 2009.
Vision
The learning from the thirty-five (35) grants over the next three years will help agencies to secure additional funds from different sources. The learning will also be used to inform program models and policies in the future.
Purpose
The purpose of the grants is to:
- Support efforts at hospitals and health centers to collect race, ethnicity, and primary language data; analyze whether patients are receiving equal care; and develop solutions when needed.
- Increase opportunities for minority students in the health professions through education, mentoring, internships or pipeline programs.
- Support efforts at hospitals, health centers, and neighborhood workforce agencies to recruit, keep, and promote employees of color.
- Support coalition health efforts in communities affected by racial and ethnic health disparities.
- Promote health literacy for diverse racial, ethnic and linguistic populations.
MDPH Contacts
Dianne Hagan
(617) 624 -6043
dianne.hagan@state.ma.us
Samuel Louis
(617) 624 -5905
samuel.louis@state.ma.us
Grantee Contacts
This information is provided by the Office of Health Equity within the Department of Public Health.