Voice Your Vision: A Community Conversation with the Minority Health Council – January 23rd

As a practicing pharmacist and the only practicing health care professional in the new York State Legislature, it is clear that we spend a large amount of resources on health care.  The concern is are we spending those resources wisely and more importantly are we capturing all the needs of the community in a proactive fashion vs a reactive fashion.  It is well known that proactive health care leads to more cost effective outcomes yet reactive health care has been the traditional more costlier form.

In keeping with emerging trends in research and practice, the Minority Health Council recognizes the need for more connected and coordinated approaches for driving and sustaining changes that are responsive to the nature of local communities and their roles.

To build upon models and frameworks that have proven successful in engaging/involving racial and ethnic populations as active participants in the planning, design, implementation and evaluation of health interventions, the Minority Health Council’s focus for 2015 is to convene listening sessions in selected areas defined as Minority Areas (MAs) (areas with a 40% or greater racial and ethnic populations) within New York State. By learning more about what the problems are and what may be needed to strengthen, empower and sustain communities – and ultimately improve health outcomes – we will have a better understanding of how to develop policies, allocate resources and support an infrastructure that works best for communities across the state.

Findings from the listening sessions will be compiled by the Minority Health Council and used to develop a report and recommendations to be presented to the New York State Department of Health’s Commissioner, with the intent to shape core guiding principles for the Department to develop and/or implement health policies, strategies, programs, and activities across culturally, linguistically, racially diverse, and multi-ethnic communities.

The committee has decided on 12 key areas for table topic discussions that day: women’s health, taking charge of your health, violence and trauma, spirituality and health, seeking services in the community, youth/adolescent health, aging and elder care, people with disabilities, LGBTQ health and men’s health. The purpose of these discussions is to elicit information–voices from community members who attend the event.
The Voice Your Vision: Capital Region (VYVCR) Listening Session has been scheduled to take place at the Sage Armory on the Sage College of Albany Campus on Saturday, January 23, from 8:30-1:00pm. Details are on the poster attached of which I hope you can attend as your voice does matter.

Voice Your Vision: A Community Conversation with the Minority Health Council – January 23rd