News

Hispanic Health Council Receives Funding for After School Program

The Hispanic Health Council (HHC) is pleased to announce it has received $180,000 grant from the State of Connecticut Department of Education. These funds will support the after school programming at HHC’s MI CASA Campus.

The after school program is in partnership with Maria C. colon Sanchez Elementary School and will serve an additional one-hundred students from 2^nd to 5^th grade.  The program will operate 34 weeks during the regular school year, and five weeks during the summer vacation.

The program has a multi-faceted approach that will help improve student performance and academic achievement in reading, mathematics, writing and science. Additionally, this program seeks to address related social challenges that children and families face on a daily basis. Parent and family engagement is one strong component of this program to support student success.

“We are excited,” says Jose Ortiz, Hispanic Health Council’s Chief Executive Officer, “investing in children through community-based after school programs plays a major role in enriching the lives of our children, families and the community as a whole.”

The Hispanic Health Council is a 36 year-old statewide community-based organization whose mission is to improve the health and social well-being of Latinos and other diverse communities through community-based research, evidence-based direct services, training and policy advocacy. 

 ## 

Nutrition Program Visiting Texas

The nutrition program at Hispanic Health Council has been invited to participate at the United Way Health & Wellness Fair at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, Texas. This event is the fifth “Nine for 90” event in the series of nine community service projects. United Way of Metropolitan Dallas have planned this event for the entire family. There will be healthy activities for kids, booths with great healthy information, face painting, arts and crafts, and many more fun activities. Our friends, Happy Heart, Fernando Farmer and Tommy will be present to talk to kids about healthy eating and the importance of exercising.

Special thanks to Cigna North Texas for making this participation possible.

WHEN:     Saturday, September 27, 2014   from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

WHERE:   Klyde Warren Park , 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Dallas, TX 75201

Hispanic Health Council Merges with Two Latino Community Organizations

August 12, 2013 - The Hispanic Health Council (HHC) has merged with Mi Casa Family Services and Educational Center (Mi Casa) and Hispanos Unidos (HU), two community-based organizations serving Connecticut’s Latino population.

With the merger, the HHC will take on many of the services formerly provided by these organizations, including the expansion of critical youth-targeted programming and HIV prevention and support initiatives.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to combine the best of what these three agencies have to offer to our communities statewide,” said Nancy Martone, chairperson of the HHC board. “We are excited to see our vision of enhancing and growing our research, culturally relevant direct service programs and advocacy to reduce health inequities experienced by our state’s diverse populations. In addition, this merger allows us to be in a better position to support Connecticut’s healthcare reform.”

With funding challenges facing many small community-based organizations, the HHC, Mi Casa and HU decided to join forces. In addition, the state of Connecticut has tended to favor larger organizations when it comes to grant funding. Thus, to save the vital community services they offer, both Mi Casa and HU opted to merge with the HHC.

The merger will allow for greater staffing and increased budgets, along with the launch of a new development office and the expansion of the HHC’s service offerings. The HHC will also boost its statewide presence by opening new offices in New Haven and Meriden, further increasing its availability to people who need its programs and services.

“The HHC has been an important part of the Latino community for decades, and we are excited to be taking on a larger role across the state of Connecticut,” Jose Ortiz, president and CEO of the HHC. “We are proud of the work that Mi Casa and HU have done within the community throughout the years, and we will carry on their missions to improve and strengthen Latino families. As a result of this merger, more people will have access to the helpful programs we offer.”

The HHC has provided health and social services to Latino community members for more than 35 years. The organization engages the community by providing core health services, community research, training and policy advocacy. Some of the HHC’s core programs include substance abuse prevention, maternal health and infant nutrition programs and community nutrition initiatives.

# # #

Concilio Hispano de la Salud se Une con Dos Organizaciones Comunitarias Latinas

Agosto 12, 2013 — El Concilio Hispano de la Salud (HHC) se ha unido como una sola organización con el Centro de Educación y Servicios de Familias Mi Casa (MCFS) e Hispanos Unidos (HU), dos organizaciones basadas en la comunidad que sirven a la población latina de Connecticut.

Con esta fusión, el HHC asumirá todos los servicios anteriormente prestados por dichas organizaciones, entre ellos, la ampliación de programas dirigidos a la juventud los cuales son considerablemente importantes, la prevención del VIH y otras iniciativas de apoyo.

“Esta es una oportunidad maravillosa de poder combinar lo mejor de lo que estas tres organizaciones tienen que ofrecer a nuestras comunidades en todo el estado”, dijo Nancy Martone, presidente de la junta del HHC. "Estamos muy contentos de ver como nuestra visión mejora y crece en las áreas de investigación, en los programas de servicio directo que son culturalmente relevantes y en la abogacía, para reducir las desigualdades en salud que diversas poblaciones en nuestro estado experimentan. Además, esta fusión nos permite estar en una mejor posición para así apoyar la reforma de salud en Connecticut”.

Con problemas de fondos que muchas pequeñas organizaciones de base comunitaria enfrentan, el HHC, MCFS y HU decidieron unir sus fuerzas. Además, el estado de Connecticut ha tendido a favorecer las organizaciones más grandes cuando se trata de conceder fondos. Por lo tanto, para salvaguardar los servicios esenciales a la comunidad que ofrecen, tanto HU y MCFS optaron por fusionarse con el HHC.

La fusión permitirá una mayor dotación de personal y aumento de presupuesto, junto con el lanzamiento de una nueva oficina de desarrollo y la expansión de los servicios que ofrece el HHC. El Concilio también aumentará su presencia en todo el estado con la apertura de nuevas oficinas en New Haven y Meriden, aumentando así la disponibilidad de sus programas y servicios para las personas que más lo necesitan.

“Por décadas el HHC ha sido una organización vital para la comunidad latina, y estamos muy contentos de tomar un rol de mayor importancia en todo el estado de Connecticut,” José Ortiz, presidente y CEO del HHC. “Estamos orgullosos del trabajo que MCFS y HU han hecho dentro de la comunidad a lo largo de los años, y vamos a llevar a cabo su misión de mejorar y fortalecer a las familias latinas. Como resultado de esta fusión, más personas tendrán acceso a los programas de ayuda que ofrecemos”.

Por más de 35 años el HHC ha involucrado a la comunidad proveyendo servicios básicos de salud, investigación comunitaria, entrenamiento y la abogacía.

# # #

Hispanic Health Council Receives $20,000 Grant From Cigna in Honor of Maria Borrero

Maria Borrero and other energetic health activists partnered with medical anthropologists Stephen and Jean Schensul and formed the Puerto Rican Health Committee to address the cultural and linguistic barriers between the community and the health care system. In 1978, the Puerto Rican Health Committee became the Hispanic Health Council led by its first executive director, Maria Borrero.

HHC addresses health disparities through engaging communities that experience health disparities in identifying disparity related problems and solutions, developing and evaluating services designed to achieve those solutions, policy advocacy to address disparities at the systems level, and cross cultural training of service providers to address health care disparities.

The Hispanic Health Council’s scope of work is increasingly statewide, and its efforts and achievements are increasingly recognized at the national level. HHC’s Breastfeeding: Peer Counseling Program was highlighted in the Institute of Medicine’s (2012) report “Accelerating the Progress of Obesity Prevention – Solving the Weight of the Nation” and three of its programs were featured in its video “Puppets & Peers On the Move – To Prevent Childhood Obesity”, which won an honorable mention in the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” Communities on the Move Faith and Community-Based Video Challenge.

“Cigna’s contribution to the Hispanic Health Council provides vital support to the agency’s critically important programs and services,” said Jose Ortiz, current President and CEO.

The Hispanic Health Council congratulates Maria Borrero on her GO YOU Award nomination and appreciates CIGNA’s generous support of our work to continue addressing health disparities through our programs and services.

Hispanic Health Council: An Honorable Mention Winner of the Let’s Move Video Challenge

Hartford, Ct - July 11, 2012 - First Lady Michelle Obama announced today the winners of the Let’s Move! Communities on the Move video challenge, related to Let’s Move Faith and Communities initiative, intended to inspire faith-based and secular neighborhood organizations to make their communities or congregations places of wellness. Hispanic Health Council’s video, “Puppets & Peers… on the Move to Prevent Childhood Obesity”, highlights three of its signature programs that together promote the three themes of the video challenge: promoting healthy food choices, promoting physical activity and promoting access to high-quality food.

One of the featured programs is PANA, Hispanic Health Council SNAP-ED program’s pre-school component, which presents six culturally relevant puppet shows containing science-based messages about healthy eating and physical activity to tens of thousands of children annually in seven of Connecticut’s poorest cities.

Also featured is Breastfeeding: Heritage and Pride, a nationally recognized evidence-based peer counseling program operated in partnership with Hartford Hospital, and replicated at Yale New Haven Hospital WIC Program. Breastfeeding: Heritage and Pride improves breastfeeding initiation and duration rates among low-income mothers and babies through prenatal and post-partum education and support provided in homes, hospitals, WIC offices and other settings.

The third featured program is SNAP Outreach, which helps eligible community members learn about the benefits of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps), and helps them to apply for the program. HHC typically helps 1,500 individuals from cities across the state to apply for SNAP benefits, with a success rate of 85-90% successfully enrolling in the program. Hispanic Health Council’s educational fotonovelas on SNAP have been distributed to Department of Social Services’ offices across the country.

The “Communities on the Move Video Challenge” Honorable Mention prize includes an invitation to the White House to meet the First Lady Michelle Obama and having our video featured on the Let’s Move website.

“We are delighted,” says Jose Ortiz, Hispanic Health Council’s Chief Executive Officer, “to have our programs acknowledged by this important national obesity prevention initiative.”

“Congratulations to the Hispanic Health Council for its prestigious recognition by First Lady Michelle Obama and the ‘Let’s Move!’ campaign. This award rightly recognizes the council’s tireless work to improve health in Connecticut’s Latino community, and entertain, inspire and educate young people about making good personal choices. Community based programs like Hartford’s Hispanic Health Council supercharge critical federal health initiatives, raising awareness and benefiting tens of thousands of young people across the state each year", said Senator Blumenthal.

The “Communities on the Move Video Challenge” Honorable Mention prize includes an invitation to the White House to meet the First Lady Michelle Obama and having our video featured on the Let’s Move website.

Hispanic Health Council: Grant Recipient of $50,000 from Komen Connecticut

Thanks to a $50,000 grant from Susan G. Komen Connecticut Affiliate, the Hispanic Health Council will be able to expand breast cancer education among Latinas living in the City of Hartford and adjacent communities. 

The grant from Komen Connecticut will support the Early Detection and Cancer Prevention Project, which aims to provide training and utilize cancer survivors to assist program staff with community outreach. HHC plans to augment its on-the-ground breast health outreach and education with radio announcements, which would build on successful campaigns of other HHC programs. This would create a multi-faceted approach for disseminating HHC’s breast health efforts throughout the community. 

For Hispanics, One Size Does Not Fit All

Newsweek - June 6, 2010 - J. Lester Feder

For Hispanics, One Size Does Not Fit All

City Care Decried in Tot's Death

The Hartford Courant - Jan. 20, 1973 - David H. Rhinelander

City Care Decried in Tot's Death

A Gift of Wigs Helps the Sick

The Hartford Courant - March 3, 2010 - Susan Campbell

A Gift of Wigs Helps the Sick

Concern Grows Over Program Funding

Concern Grows Over Program Funding - Jan. 14, 2010- Ray Villeda

WFSB Channel 3 News

Hispanic Health Council Featured on NBC-30 Connecticut News

NBC 30 Connecticut News - Dec. 29, 2009 - Special Report  Connecticut 2020:

The Decade of the Latino Boom 

Health Care Interpreters: Medical Necessity

The Hartford Courant - March 13, 2009 - Jeannette B. DeJesus

Health Care Interpreters: Medical Necessity

Puppet Shows Help Hispanic Health Council Promote Proper Nutrition

The Hartford Courant - Feb. 16, 2009 - Kathleen Megan

Puppet Shows Help Hispanic Health Council Promote Proper Nutrition

Finding a Voice to Match the Pressing Medical Needs of Hispanics

The New York Times - Dec. 7, 2008 - Tracy Gordon Fox

Finding a Voice to Match the Pressing Medical Needs of Hispanics

Rell's Proposal Doesn't Make Sense

Hartford Business Journal - March 10, 2008 - Jeannette DeJesus

Rell's Proposal Doesn't Make Sense

Latino Health Lags

The Hartford Courant - Dec. 15, 2006 - Editorial

Latino Health Lags

Unhealthy Diagnosis

The Hartford Courant - Dec. 13, 2006 - Hilary Waldman

Unhealthy Diagnosis

8 Remarkable Women in Business

Hartford Business Journal - April 4, 2005

8 Remarkable Women in Business

Breast Friends

The Hartford Courant - Oct. 26, 2004 - Hilary Waldman

Breast Friends

Diabetes in Latinos Studied

The Hartford Courant - March 9, 2004 - Hilary Waldman

Diabetes in Latinos Studied

An Advocate Lives Her Mission

The Hartford Courant - June 17, 2002 - Johnny Mason

An Advocate Lives Her Mission

Hispanic Health Council Reports AIDS Survey Results

The Hartford News - Oct. 2, 1996 - Don Rully

Hispanic Health Council Reports AIDS Survey Results

Project Releases Results of Youth Survey on AIDS

The Hartford Courant - Sept. 9, 1996 - Lisa Chedekel

Project Releases Results of Youth Survey on AIDS

AIDS Issues, Research to be Discussed at Conference in Hartford

The Hartford Courant - June 6, 1996 - Kathryn Kranhold

AIDS Issues, Research to be Discussed at Conference in Hartford

Grant Funds After-school Programs

The Hartford Courant - Oct. 23, 1995 - Constance Neyer

Grant Funds After-school Programs

Students Learn to Cope with Violence

The Hartford Courant - March 14, 1995

Students Learn to Cope with Violence

Luz Rohena, AIDS Worker, Hispanic Health Council

Hartford Advocate - March 30, 1995

Luz Rohena, AIDS Worker, Hispanic Health Council

Latinos & AIDS

Hartford Advocate - Sept. 1, 1994 - Jayne Keedle

Latinos & AIDS

Marchers Protest Response to Drowning

The Hartford Courant - Aug. 13, 1994 - Maria Alvarez

Marchers Protest Response to Drowing

Looking for Solutions to Problems of Youth

The Hartford Courant - June 15, 1994 - Pamela Mitchell

Looking for Solutions to Problems of Youths

Health Council's Plan to Open Youth Center Wins Agency Backing

The Hartford News - Nov. 24, 1993 - Helen Ubinas

Health Council's Plan to Open Youth Center Wins Agency Backing

Hunger Among Children is a Growing Concern

The Hartford Courant - Feb. 10, 1993 - Kathleen Megan

Hunger Among Children is a Growing Concern

Hartford Groups Get $900,000 for AIDS Fight

The Hartford Courant - Oct. 9, 1992 - Eric Lipton

Hartford Groups Get $900,000 for AIDS Fight

Local Groups Awarded Millions for AIDS Work

The Hartford Courant - April 6, 1992 - Mary Otto

Local Groups Awarded Millions for AIDS Work

Childbirth Educators Target Hispanic Women

The Hartford Courant - July 27, 1990 - Hilary Waldman

Childbirth Educators Target Hispanic Women

Activist Gonzalez: Middle Class, Perhaps, but Committed Fighter

The Hartford Courant - Jan. 16, 1981

Activist Gonzalez: Middle Class, Perhaps, But Committed Fighter

Hospital Defends Policies on Sterilizing Women

The Hartford Courant - Oct. 18, 1980 - C. L. Smith Muniz

Hospital Defends Policies on Sterilizing Women

Sterilization Count Higher Than Expected

The Hartford Courant - Oct. 13, 1980 - Carol Giacomo

Sterilization Count Higher Than Expected

Casa de Puerto Rico Gets $73,525 Grant

The Hartford Courant - Aug. 24, 1978 - Manuel Vargas

Casa de Puerto Rico Gets $78,525 Grant

For Hispanics, a Unique Cancer Profile Emerges

September 15, 2009 

From The National Alliance for Hispanic Health - Health News

TUESDAY, Sept. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Hispanics in the United States are less likely to die from cancer than non-Hispanic whites, but they have higher rates of cancers linked to infections, including stomach, liver and cervix malignancies, a new report says.

At first glance, Hispanics' lower death rate from cancer seems to be good news, but one explanation is that the Hispanic population skews younger than the general U.S. population. Cancer risk rises with age.

The new detailed look at cancer incidence is from Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2009-2011, a report released Sept. 15 that's published every three years by the American Cancer Society.

Hispanics are the largest, fastest-growing and youngest minority in the United States, according to the report. They also have a cancer risk profile that differs from whites and other ethnic groups.

Hispanics are less likely than non-Hispanic whites to die from the four most common cancers: breast, prostate, colorectal and lung.

But Hispanics have higher rates of stomach cancer, associated with Helicobacter pylori infection; liver cancer, associated with hepatitis B and C infection; and cervical cancer, linked to human papillomavirus infection.

Immunizations against human papillomavirus in teenage girls can prevent cervical cancer, and regular gynecological screenings for women can catch cervical cancer early, but Hispanic women are less likely to get either, said Vilma Cokkinides, the American Cancer Society's director for risk factor surveillance.

And though Hispanics are less likely to smoke and drink alcohol, both risk factors for cancer, they are more likely to be poor, have fewer years of education and lack health insurance, barriers to getting recommended screenings, according to the report.

Hispanics are also more likely than whites to be diagnosed with breast and melanoma cancers at a later stage, when the cancers are more difficult to treat and have spread to other organs.

Cokkinides said that programs targeting Spanish-speakers about the importance of screening and risk factors for cancer could help, as could programs to increase access to medical insurance and medical care.

But one challenge in developing such programs, she said, is that the U.S. Hispanic population is diverse, with variations in country of origin, length of time in the United States, educational attainment and experience and knowledge of the health-care system.

"Things like mammograms and Pap smears aren't necessarily routine where people are coming from," Cokkinides said.

Yet certain lessons should be stressed across all cultures, she said.

"Avoidance of tobacco products, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a largely plant-based diet, minimizing alcohol consumption and exercising is good advice for everybody," Cokkinides said.

Hilary Waldman, a spokeswoman for the Hispanic Health Council in Hartford, Conn., said that it's not uncommon for Hispanic women to be diagnosed with later-stage cancers that could have been picked up sooner through proper screenings. The council runs a Spanish-language cancer support group for Hispanic women, in addition to its research and advocacy functions.

"There's a real lack of support for culturally appropriate and linguistically appropriate services for them," Waldman said.

And though many big-city hospitals have interpreters, smaller or suburban hospitals often don't, she said, adding that the complexity of cancer and its often-complicated treatment plans and serious side effects make interpreters all the more important.

In the support groups, Waldman said, women often talk about their distress in not being able to understand their doctors -- or having their doctors understand them.

"There's a big problem getting medical interpretation for people who don't speak English," she said. "There is no mechanism to pay for it. If you're lucky, they will bring in the housekeeper or somebody who happens to be around to translate."

The inability to communicate, combined with financial issues, has led some women to skip appointments, Waldman said.

Nearly 99,000 Hispanics in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer in 2009, according to the American Cancer Society. Among men, prostate is the most common malignancy; among women, it's breast cancer. Colorectal cancer is the second-most common cancer in both Hispanic men and women.

About 18,800 Hispanics will die from cancer in 2009, the society estimates. Among men, lung and colorectal cancer cause the most deaths, whereas breast and lung cancer are the top two killers of women.

More information

The American Cancer Society has more on racial and ethnic disparities and cancer.

SOURCES: Vilma Cokkinides, Ph.D., director, risk factor surveillance, American Cancer Society, Atlanta; Hilary Waldman, spokeswoman, Hispanic Health Council, Hartford, Conn.; Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2009-2011, Sept. 15, 2009 

Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.