July 2010, Issue 3

A publication of the Arkansas Minority Health Commission

the Minority Report

Inside this Issue:

Staff Retreat ...........................................3

HIV/AIDS Minority Task Force

Public Forum ........................................3

Monticello Health Fair ..........................4

Legislative Meeting ................................5

NatioNal HiV testiNg Day actiVities oNly tHe begiNNiNg

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) was Sunday, June 27, 2010. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one out of five people living with HIV in the U.S. are unaware of their HIV status. NHTD is an opportunity for people nationwide to learn their HIV status, and to gain knowledge to take control of their health and their lives.

To observe this national day to-wards an end of motivating, educating and mobilizing Arkansans against HIV/AIDS, the Arkansas Minority Health Commission challenged faith-based institutions to create greater awareness about HIV/AIDS and its affect on the community. As a result, ten churches in four counties partnered with the AMHC to administer HIV/AIDS tests on Saturday, June 26th and Sunday, June 27th. AMHC is grateful to the Arkansas Department of Healths HIV/STD/Hep-atitis C section for providing screeners at each testing site.

This effort was announced on June 25th at a press conference held at the First Baptist Church located at 811 Scipio A. Jones Drive in North Little Rock where Rev. William L. Robinson is the pastor.

History has shown that the church strongly influences knowledge, attitude, belief and behavior about health. Therefore, faith-based initiatives have been proposed by national and statewide authorities as a way to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic within minor-ity communities, said Idonia Trotter, AMHC Executive Director. We are grateful to Pastor Robinson and the First

Baptist Church congregation for serving as a testing site and for Pastor Robinsons long history of leadership in the com-munity, Trotter said. These efforts are only the beginning of AMHCs commitment to broaden and build its relationship with the faith-based com-munity in Arkansas to increase awareness of not only HIV/AIDS, but other issues of public health in which we know the church can play an extremely important role.

As a result of these efforts, more than 150 people were tested during the NHTD weekend! Thats 150 more Arkansans who now know their HIV status. This is a preventable disease. Not knowing is not an option, Trot-

AMHC staff members Patricia Minor, R.N./HIV Outreach Initiatives Manager and Silvia Fernandez with members of the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in Little Rock on Saturday, June 26th. FUMC served as a testing site for National HIV Testing Day.

ter stated. Test results are forwarded to the Arkansas Department of Health for confidential follow up and statistical data gathering.

www.arminorityhealth.com2

in 2008, aMHc chose HiV/aiDs as a key focus and developed multiple activities to address HiV/aiDs in arkansas.

there are approxi-mately 5,846 arkan-sans living with HiV/aiDs; 2,467 are african american.

although african americans only com-prise 16% of the states population, they ac-count for 42% of the reported cases of HiV/aiDs

Hispanics only account for 5.3% of the states population and yet represent 212 of HiV/aiDs cases, or 4% of arkansans living with HiV/aiDs.

source: arkansas Department of Health

HiV/aiDs Facts This year, AMHC expanded the

commissions HIV/AIDS focus as a part of a model collaborative educa-tion/ awareness campaign with the Arkansas Department of Health HIV/STD/Hepatitis C Unit. As a result of the joint effort, 12 community orga-nizations have been funded covering 41 counties. AMHC and the Arkan-sas Department of Health (ADH) announced in a press conference June 25, $617,963 in grant awards to the following community-based organi-zations to fight HIV/AIDS through education and awareness.

AMHC Grantees: Alliance on Community Health Arkansas Human Development

Corporation Centers for Youth and Families Future Builders Jubilee Christian Center

ADH Grantees: White River Rural Health Black AIDS Institute Black Community Developers Brothas & Sistas, Inc. Chicot Memorial Hospital Planned Parenthood of AR and East Oklahoma, Inc. St. Francis House NWA dba

Community Clinic

Dr. Creshelle Nash, AMHC Medical Director, stated at the press conference, Our goal is to strengthen these organizations and their capac-ity to implement HIV prevention and awareness programs toward the states goal of reducing and eventually eliminating the spread of HIV/AIDS in Arkansas.

aMHc & aDH aNNoUNces MoRe tHaN $600,000 iN HiV aWaRDs

2010 Award Grantees, Centers for Youth and Families

2010 Award Grantees, Jubilee Christian Center

Senator Tracy Steele, District 34

Dr. Nate Smith (ADH), MD, MPH, Deputy DirectorPublic Health Programs Arkansas Department of Health

www.arminorityhealth.com 3

AMHC has experienced tremen-dous change and growth over the past year. Oftentimes, change and growth are accompanied by growing painssome welcomed, some not. To ensure the organization is steadfast in keeping its mission, AMHC staff embarked on a two-day staff retreat June 30th and July 1st. Veronica P. Allen of the Rockhurst University Education Center in Overland Park, Kan., conducted a seminar entitled The Essentials of Communication and Collaboration that focused on interpersonal communication. The staff received training on communi-cating within the office setting and with external collaborative partners.

Objectives were: Fostering a collaborative working

environment Communication essentials for

collaboration Building work relationships that

support collaboration Collaboration tactics and tech-

niques for success Working through disagreement

and conflicts

According to her biography, Al-len has led more than 600 seminars throughout the country. Prior to her current work of facilitating and lead-ing seminars, Allens years of experi-ence in the healthcare industry has given her a deep understanding of the challenges employees face in adminis-tering public health services.

RetReat ReViVes staFF aND oRgaNizatioN

AMHC Commissioner, Dr. Carolyn Mosley

Executive Director, Idonia Trotter and AMHC Staff member Hanan Givens

AMHC Staff member, Patricia Minor, R.N.

Workshop moderator, Veronia P. Allen

Arkansas HIV/AIDS Minority Task Force

Public Health Forum

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 5pm - 8pm

University of Central Arkansas

Brewer-Hegmann Building

Room 5A & 5B

201 Donaghey Ave. Conway, AR

Presented by the Arkansas HIV/AIDS Minority

Task Force &

S H A RPState Healthcare Access Research Project

For more information call 501-370-5242

Mark your calendars for a HiV/aiDs Public Forum

in your town.Forrest city, august

springdale, september

www.arminorityhealth.com2

ArkAnsAs Minority HeAltH CoMMissionYo u r h e a l t h . O u r p r i o r i t y .

ArkansasMinorityHealthCommission

MontiCello, ArkAnsAs

thursdaY, JulY 22, 201010:00am - 3:00pm

Public Health Fair

VFW Building148 Veterans driVe

MOnticellO, ar 71655

tHfair

HeAltH inforMAtion provided by Minority

HeAltH vendors

free HeAltH sCreenings!Blood pressure, glucose,

cholesteroland more

idonia l. trotter, Jd, Mps, executive director

1123 s. university, ste. 312 little rock, arkansasarminorityhealth.com

lunch provided by the Arkansas Minority Health CommissionPutting Your tobacco settlement dollars to Work!

501.686.2720

for More inforMAtion, CAll

please join the senate subcommittee on minority healthSenator Jack crumbly, chair

Senator Percy Malone Senator Gilbert baker Senator tracy Steele Senator randy laverty

monticello, arkansasthurSday, July 22, 2010

6:00pm - 8:00pmvFW buildinG

148 veteranS driveMonticello, ar 71655

attendees Will be provided:

attendees are asked to provide their vieWs on:

Next Steps Services Needed

Use of Existing Services Gaps in Service

A synopsis of public health concerns expressed by citizens living in counties where life expectancy at birth based on death data shows that minorities die 10 years earlier than non-minority citizens.

Demographic snapshot of minority Arkansans (including Health Screening data) living in counties where minorities

are expected to die 10 years earlier. Legislation passed in the 2009 Session

that will impact public health.

bureau of legislative researchState capitol building little rock, ar

dinner courtesy of the arkansas minority health commission

501.682.1937

For more inFormation, contact juanita Witham or kim baxter

Legislative

www.arminorityhealth.com 3

ArkAnsAs Minority HeAltH CoMMissionYo u r h e a l t h . O u r p r i o r i t y .

ArkansasMinorityHealthCommission

MontiCello, ArkAnsAs

thursdaY, JulY 22, 201010:00am - 3:00pm

Public Health Fair

VFW Building148 Veterans driVe

MOnticellO, ar 71655

tHfair

HeAltH inforMAtion provided by Minority

HeAltH vendors

free HeAltH sCreenings!Blood pressure, glucose,

cholesteroland more

idonia l. trotter, Jd, Mps, executive director

1123 s. university, ste. 312 little rock, arkansasarminorityhealth.com

lunch provided by the Arkansas Minority Health CommissionPutting Your tobacco settlement dollars to Work!

501.686.2720

for More inforMAtion, CAll

please join the senate subcommittee on minority healthSenator Jack crumbly, chair

Senator Percy Malone Senator Gilbert baker Senator tracy Steele Senator randy laverty

monticello, arkansasthurSday, July 22, 2010

6:00pm - 8:00pmvFW buildinG

148 veteranS driveMonticello, ar 71655

attendees Will be provided:

attendees are asked to provide their vieWs on:

Next Steps Services Needed

Use of Existing Services Gaps in Service

A synopsis of public health concerns expressed by citizens living in counties where life expectancy at birth based on death data shows that minorities die 10 years earlier than non-minority citizens.

Demographic snapshot of minority Arkansans (including Health Screening data) living in counties where minorities

are expected to die 10 years earlier. Legislation passed in the 2009 Session

that will impact public health.

bureau of legislative researchState capitol building little rock, ar

dinner courtesy of the arkansas minority health commission

501.682.1937

For more inFormation, contact juanita Witham or kim baxter

Legislative

arkansas Minority Health commission1123 s. University ave. suite 312little Rock, aR 72204arminorityhealth.com

become a Fan on Facebook!facebook.com/arminorityhealth

This issue:

Dr. Joycelyn EldersA bridge to

Healthier Living

Putting the pieces together

A p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e A r k a n s a s M i n o r i t y H e a l t h C o m m i s s i o n

Quest For Health Equity

Spring 2010

Health Care Access: 28% of nonelderly African Americans and 40% of nonelderly Hispanics are uninsured in Arkansas.Source: Kaiser Family Foundation

82% (114,844) of black children live in low-income families

Quality Health Care: More minorities state that people like themselves are treated less fairly when seeking health care, specifically, 40% of urban blacks, 29% of rural blacks and 25% of Hispanics. 42%

(199,879) of white children live in

low-income families

82% (114,844) of black children live in low-income families

Source: Arkansas Racial and Ethnic Health Disparity Study II: A Minority Health Update, Arkansas Minority Health Commission

1123 S. University Ave., Suite 312Little Rock, AR 72204Toll Free: 1-877-264-2826Main: 501-686-2720Fax: 501-686-2722www.arminorityhealth.com

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Behavioral: More than 73% of African Americans are overweight or obese; compare to 66% of all Arkansans. Source: 2008 Behavioral Risk FactorSurveillance System-Arkansas

Source: Statistics based on 2008 National Center for Children in Poverty, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

Source: Statistics based on 2008 National Center for Children in Poverty, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

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