2011 & Beyond: Latino Health Equity Conference Archive

::PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION::
Just a few decades ago, in 1970, Latinos counted for less than 10 million of the nation’s population. Today that number is more than 46 million. And by 2050, about 1 of every 3 people in the entire U.S. will be Latino. This tremendous Latino population explosion is alarming given that Latinos suffer unequally from a variety of chronic diseases and cancer. Latinos tend to be younger, less educated, impoverished, less able to access health care, screening and less likely to be covered by insurance. Latinos are also at greater risk for certain types of cancer, including cancer of the cervix, stomach, liver and gallbladder. Latinos also suffer more diabetes and obesity than most other population groups. Latino cancer rates are projected to increase by 142% by 2030, compared to 45% for the overall population, recent figures show. Latinos’ continued population growth, coupled with rising health care costs and the aging of the currently young Latino population make it imperative to find innovative ways to research and intervene for Latino health.

Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez’ keynote presentation will offer a unique glimpse into her personal story as she developed her public health research career alongside the growth of both the Latino population at different stages in history and the specific problems they faced in those eras. Revealing how changes in research topics and strategies have evolved over the years, Dr. Ramirez will touch on her innovations in tobacco cessation and Latino health communication strategies (1980s), cancer screening and behaviors among Latinos (1990s) and successful development and implementation of national, network-based approaches to health communications research to benefit Latinos (2000s). Today she continues to address critical needs, such as obesity, health and communication which still need to be solved to reduce and eliminate health disparities, keeping the health of our Latino population from spiraling into dire straits.

::PRESENTER::
Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez
Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
The University of Texas Health Science Center

::DOCUMENTATION::
►The New Latino America: Changing Strategies to Tackle New Health Challenges (PDF)

::PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION::
General concepts of environmental justice will be introduced. The benefits and burdens of environmental decisions on Latino populations will be the focus of these concepts. Often, communities suffer environmental burdens for a long time before life expectancy decreases. Many of these environmental burdens accumulate in the land, air, water, and in mammals, like humans. Air quality is one such issue, and the life threatening injustice affects Latino people on the West Coast in a way that transcends income.

The variety of people that comprise Latino cultures also create a variety of environmental justice issues. Specific types of Latino farmworkers face life threatening environmental issues daily. Other, urban, middle class Latino people may breath the worst air with cumulative impacts causing asthma and other health impairments. (Eugene)

The law of EJ in Oregon is new and just starting. It is focused on inclusion of all people and collaboration with state agencies to solve problems of environmental justice. We are a task force called the Environmental Justice Task Force, created by law. The EJTF recently won an award from the US Environmental Protection Agency. The EJTF will be discussed after the general EJ concepts and specific application to Latino populations.

::PRESENTERS::
Robin Morris Collin
Professor of Law
Willamette University College of Law

Lisa Arkin
Executive Director
Oregon Toxics Alliance

Alison Guzman
Environmental Justice Community Outreach Coordinator
Oregon Toxics Alliance

::DOCUMENTATION::
►Environmental Justice & EJ Law In Oregon (PDF)

::PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION::
Today immigrants live at the crossroads of two broken systems: health care and immigration. This session will provide a look at the local "crossroads" including data, programs and partnerships that support health care access for the Latino community.

::PRESENTERS::
Gloria Coronado, PhD, MS
Merwyn (Mitch) R. Greenlick Endowed
Scientist for Health Disparities

Alan Melnick, MD, MPH, CPH
Clark County Health Officer

Anna Jimenez
Physician
Mobile Medical Van
Wallace Medical Concern

::DOCUMENTATION::
►Clark County Latino Health Disparities (PDF)
►The Wallace Medical Concern (PDF)

::PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION::
Following a case study enactment, we will use a power analysis to understand the motivation of each participant in the situation: bully, victim and bystander. Together we will review what is known about bullying and the power enacted through this aggression. We will also tap into the ways in which bystanders often feel helpless to intervene. Recommended interventions will be detailed, and participants will work in small groups to practice these interventions.

::PRESENTERS::
Ann Curry-Stevens
Assistant Professor
Portland State University School of Social Work

Anjuli Lineback
MSW Student
Portland State University

Ariana Chavarria
MSW Student
Portland State University

::DOCUMENTATION::
►Bullying: Knocking the Bravado Aside (PDF)

::PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION::
Depression among adolescent and young adult (AYA) Latino men with cancer is challenging for patients and families, as well as oncology and mental health professionals. Failure to recognize culturally-specific symptoms and lack of evidence-based intervention mean many patients suffer with undiagnosed and untreated depressive symptoms. In this session, we will describe depression among AYA Latino men with cancer, and present the current state of knowledge and cases from our Latino patient navigator.

The Latino population is the largest growing group in the U.S. with especially high prevalence of depression among Latino adolescents compared with non-Hispanic White adolescents. Barriers to diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems compound the problem. Providers often fail to detect ethnically specific presentation of depressive symptoms. Latinos may be concerned about providers’ cultural competence.

Elevated use of mental health services and unmet needs for these services are reported among Latino cancer patients. Depression is positively associated with cancer stage, prognosis, symptoms, and co-morbid conditions, and negatively with age. Poverty, lack of insurance, low education, limited access to health care, acculturation and linguistic and cultural barriers all contribute to Latino cancer disparities.

Research suggests that optimal mental health may result from retaining supportive elements of the traditional culture and adopting instrumental elements of the host culture. Accordingly, acculturative family distancing, may be directly associated with increased risk for depression. Cognitive-behavioral interventions and psychological treatments have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing and managing psychological distress in patients with cancer and should be tested in AYA Latino men.

::PRESENTERS::
Rebecca Block, PhD, MSW, LCSW,
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Oregon Health and Science University

Omar Cervantes, BS, RYT,
Patient Navigator
Familias en Acción

::DOCUMENTATION::
►Depression and Life-Challenging Illness: Latino Adolescent and Young Adult Men with Cancer (PDF)

::PRESENTER::
Dr. Carlos Crespo
Professor and Director of the School of Community Health
Portland State University

::DOCUMENTATION::
►Hypertension among Hispanics (PDF)