♦
Developing
Innovative Approaches and Solutions for Better Health
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Training the Next Generation of Researchers, Educators, and Policy Makers
Developing
Innovative Tools to Enhance the Delivery of Culturally Effective Services
The Mission of the UCLA Center for
Research, Education, Training, and Strategic Communication on Minority
Health Disparities (CRETSCMHD) is the reduction and elimination of
physical and mental health disparities in racial
and ethnic minority populations. The UCLA Center's agenda is structured
such that integrated through each of its Cores are three themes vital to
effectively eliminate disparities in health: research, education and
training, and communication and dissemination.
A diverse group of faculty, health professionals, community-based
agencies, and minority media have joined together through CRETSCMHD to
effectively reduce or eliminate disparities in health among racial and
ethnic minorities. Funded under the Centers of Excellence in Partnerships
for Community Outreach, Research on Health Disparities and Training (Project
EXPORT a program of the National Institutes of Health), the CRETSCMHD
brings together experts and stakeholders to understand the root causes and
implement effective strategies for reducing or eliminating minority health
disparities.
The objectives
of the center are to develop a comprehensive understanding of health,
health care, access to care, and health behaviors of the diverse
populations in California so that we may greatly contribute to national efforts to
tackle the enormous problem of racial/ethnic health disparities. While the
majority of research on racial/ethnic health disparities in the U.S. examines
pervasive disparities between Blacks and Whites, health
disparities seen in the context of California's diversity offers the
Center the opportunity to study the dynamics of health disparities
within greatly understudied racial/ethnic groups such as Asians, Pacific Islanders,
Native Hawaiians, Latinos,
Americans Indians, and Black populations.
The Center was established through funds
from the National Institute of Health -Center for Minority Health and Health
Disparities and its growth and sustainability is funded through its
community partnerships, UCLA, and volunteers.
Copyright © 2004 Vickie M. Mays, PhD
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