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On Tuesday, October 7th, over 200 health leaders,
advocates, researchers, and consumers convened at Trinity Cathedral
for the first ever local conversation on health in Cleveland.The
primary focus was on health disparities among communities of color.
The day-long event featured notable speakers from the health arena
and series of breakout sessions to allow for discussions about the
state of health in the various communities. The event also featured
an invocation by the pastor of the Cleveland Korean Presbyterian
Church, Reverand Sun Ki Kim. Dr. Jackson of the Ohio Department of
Health is the lunch keynote speaker.
The Asian American section brainstormed on many different
topics. Some of the key findings included a need for services that
are language and culturally relevant, better training for mainstream
providers so they better relate to the needs of Asian American
health consumers, and a need to create a pipeline for Asian
professionals to work at the community level.
It is well recognized that there is a lack of
evidence-based data to support community program planning, limited
understanding of Asian American specific issues by the policy and
foundation leaders, and poor awareness of community resources
available by the Asian American community. The key strategies
proposed are: government and foundation support for Asian American
research, program and leadership development, community-based
out-reach navigation services to enhance service access and
utilization, and public-private partnerships and network with the
mainstream organizations and sub-ethnic community organizations.
The local conversation is part of the National
Partnership for Action, a nationwide dialogue to identify priorities
to inform local, state and national policy on eliminating health
disparities among communities of color. The event was sponsored by
the Ohio Commission on Minority Health, the Cleveland Clinic, the
University Hospital and other notable local institutions.
Michael Byun
Acting Executive Director, Asian Services In Action
Chair, Ohio Asian American Health Coalition
Ye-Fan W. Glavin, PhD
Clinical Faculty, Case Western Reserve University
Board Member, Cuyahoga County Board of Health
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