National Alliance for Hispanic Health

The National Alliance for Hispanic Health (NAHH) is a nonprofit and nonpartisan advocacy organization dedicated to improving the health and well being of Hispanics and working to secure the best health outcomes. The National Alliance for Hispanic Health is science based and community driven. The National Alliance for Hispanic Health subscribed to receive the "Best in America” seal from Independent Charities of America. Funds are not accepted from tobacco or alcohol companies or their subsidiaries.

The National Alliance for Hispanic Health conducts Signature and Demonstration programs. Signature Programs include (1) Annual STEM Scholarships: Awards 10 high school students up to $42,500 and 25 college students $2,000. (2) Health Help Hotline connects consumers to health information and services; and, (3) Family healthy lifestyle events in 10 cities attended by over 25,000 families annually. Demonstration Programs include increasing number of persons who have health insurance by promoting enrollment in Medicaid, Affordable Care Act and CHIP and promoting models for the sustainability of local health and human service providers, diabetes prevention, smoking cessation, cancer prevention, and Alzheimer’s awareness.

Additionally, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health is at the forefront of policy development as evidenced by collaboration on key issues ranging from biosimilars to sugar sweetened beverages to clinical trials. The National Alliance for Hispanic Health also provides information through its member organizations, which include the leading national health organizations, community-based groups, universities, hospitals government agencies, foundations, and corporations. According to PBS's "Remaking American Medicine" series, it is the oldest network of Hispanic health and human services providers, delivering services to more than 15 million people each year.[1]

The National Alliance for Hispanic Health is governed by a volunteer board of directors and managed by its president and chief executive officer, Dr. Jane L. Delgado, who has served in that capacity since 1985.

History

The National Alliance for Hispanic Health, was founded in 1973 as the Coalition of Spanish Speaking Mental Health Organizations (COSSMHO) and has also been known as the National Coalition for Hispanic Health and Human Services Organizations.[2]

In 1987, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health was at the forefront of working with the federal government to improve its health data research for Hispanic populations in the United States. The initiative was prompted in part by publication of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' report on "Black and Minority Health" which had found more complete health and demographic data on American Indians and Asian Americans than Hispanics. Delgado, on the coordinating committee of the Task Force that prepared the DHHS report, related to the Washington Post, "Data collection drives national policy in this country, and we don't have good data on Hispanics."[3]

The organization's research work has included the Hispanic Health Research Consortium whose work on the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) was published as the first collected mainstream health journal issue to focus on Hispanic health,[4] research on Hispanic youth demographics which reported that Hispanics for the first time were the nation’s largest racial/ethnic group of children,[5] and publication of findings from the first survey of Hispanic communities and emergency preparedness issues.[6]

Among its policy efforts, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health played a leading role in the landmark Disadvantaged Minority Health Improvement Act of 1990, has been active in protection of patient rights under Executive Order 13166 to improve health access for limited English proficient (LEP) persons,[7] lead health information technology policy efforts,[8] has been active in regulatory oversight of the Medicare Modernization Act,[9] is an advocate for expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, is a vocal advocate on tobacco control policy in Hispanic communities, and advocates for clean air and water in Hispanic communities.[10] In 2007, NAHH partnered with Research!America to field the first national public opinion survey of Hispanics on health and research issues.[11] Most recently, as a compliment to its online action network, the organization established the Vote for Your Health effort that delivers election day text message reminders to vote to members.[12]

The 1998 Surgeon General Report on Tobacco Use recognized the Alliance for having "refused the support of the tobacco industry" and alcohol industry[13] and "adopted a formal policy not to accept money from tobacco companies or their subsidiaries."[14]

In April 2010, the NAHH was named to The NonProfit Times' "Best NonProfit Organizations to Work for in 2010".[15]

Programs

NAHH serves Hispanic communities nationwide through its member health providers and organizations. Its areas of health information services include diabetes, heart health, high blood pressure, mental health, fitness, physical activity, healthy eating, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, environmental health and health insurance, among many others.

NAHH operates the Healthy Americas Foundation for its programs. In 2012 NAHH partnered with USC and created the Healthy Americas Institute at the Keck School of Medicine.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "National Alliance for Hispanic Health Joins PBS Series As National Partner; Helping Consumers Understand Their Role in Health Care" (Press release). U.S. Newswire. 2006-09-18. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  2. ↑ "Quality Health Services for Hispanics: The Cultural Competency Component". U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  3. ↑ Colburn, Don; Melillo, Wendy (1987-06-16). "Hispanics: A Forgotten Health Population". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  4. ↑ "The National Coalition of Hispanic health and Human Services Organizations (COSSMHO)". UCLA. 2006-12-18. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  5. ↑ "Advancing the Understanding of the Health of Racial and Ethnic Populations and Subpopulations". National Center for Health Statistics. 2007-01-11. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  6. ↑ Baezconde-Garbanati, Lourdes; Jennifer Unger; Cecilia Portugal; Jane L. Delgado; Adolph Falcon; Marcela Gaitan (2007-05-15). "Maximizing Participation of Hispanic Community-Based/Non-Governmental Organizations in Emergency Preparedness" (PDF). CQ.com. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  7. ↑ Bender, Deborah; Harlan, Christina (2005). "Increasing Latino Access to Quality Health Care". Journal of Public Health Management and Practice 11 (1): 46–49. PMID 15692292. 2008-09-22.
  8. ↑ Farris, Nancy (2006-12-18). "Round Two for e-health Records Banks Bills". Government HealthIT. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  9. ↑ "Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance Program Panel" (PDF). Federal Register. 2005-01-28. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  10. ↑ Potter, Ned (2007-05-10). "Activist Group Measures Pollution When Government Doesn't". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  11. ↑ "First National Survey of Hispanic Opinions on Health Research: More Opportunities Needed for Hispanic Youth". Research!America. 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  12. ↑ Eliott, Philip (2008-02-04). "Organization plans to increase Hispanic voter through cell phones". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  13. ↑ Metzger, Raphael; Jane L. Delgado; Robert Herrell (September 1995). "Environmental Health and Hispanic Children". Environmental Health Perspectives Supplements Volume 103, Number S6. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  14. ↑ Satcher, David (1998). "Tobacco Use Among U.S. Racial/Ethnic Minority Groups". National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  15. ↑ "2010 "Best NonProfit Organizations to Work for"". The NonProfit Times. 2010-04-01. Retrieved 2010-04-18.

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