How funds will work to benefit all

The Health Foundation for the Americas (HFA) is the support organization for the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (Alliance). The Alliance is the national voice for the power and promise of Hispanic community-based solutions and at the same time challenges medicine and science to apply the lessons from the longer life span of Hispanics to benefit all communities.

For too long we have relied on models that focus solely on the problems and deficits in the Hispanic community. A complete picture would help us learn why given certain risk factors the outcomes for Hispanics are more favorable than predicted using existing models. For example, we know that Hispanic women are less likely to have breast cancer than non-Hispanic white women yet there has been little research to understand the factors behind this consistent finding. Along similar lines the fact that Hispanics have less heart disease or strokes than non-Hispanic whites is particularly compelling given that Hispanics have higher rates of diabetes and are more likely to be overweight. These findings are difficult for most to accept as they run contrary to what most people believe or promulgate.

The negative differences and deficits of communities have been the focus of attention. Using “elimination of disparities” as a methodology has been a way to promote a deficit mind set and perpetuate the use of the findings for non-Hispanic whites as the standard. This has been a disservice to all communities as a more meaningful standard for health service and outcomes for the entire population should be based on “better than the best.” In a number of areas the more positive health experiences of Hispanics and other communities should set the standard for the nation. Unfortunately, rather than mine the richness in opportunities for research and new models that is made possible by the diversity inherent within our nation we diminish the value of our unique multicultural society by a lack of inclusion in our research studies and our outreach activities. The Alliance offers a unique vehicle for reaching communities and bridging the cultural gap for the benefit of all.

Local communities, the heart of the Alliance, are the essential elements that must be part of the solution as we redefine health. Yet the promise of community-based involvement and solutions will not be realized without a stable funding base to support an effective capacity to act proactively in the early stages of problem solving and in designing innovative programs.