WEALTH

Newsletter of the WIN Womens Health Policy Network

Were on Facebook! April 2012 Volume 4 Issue 4

WIN Celebrates National Minority Health Month!

On Sunday, April 15th, the WIN Women's Health Policy and Health, Wellness & Recreation gathered for our second Healthy Living Potluck. In recognition of National Minority Health Month, the discussion focused on racial/ethnic health disparities. We were joined by women from two organizations leading efforts to achieve health equity: Priscilla Huang of the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum, and Janesia Simmons of Divas,MPH. Part of the discussion focused on racial disparities in breast cancer diagnoses and survival rates: Janesia noted that while African-American women do not have the highest incidence of cervical and breast cancer, they have the highest death rates due to the disease, partially due to later diagnoses. Priscilla shared an article that told the story of Shinagawa, an Asian American women who discovered a lump in her breast, but was told by her health care professional that Asian American women dont get breast cancer. Shinagawa had to advocate for a breast tissue biopsy, and subsequent management of her health after the removal of her cancer. In order to achieve equity, a systemic transformation of the healthcare system is needed. One means is for individuals and communities to be their own advocates. Potluck attendees also highlighted the need to reach out to individuals in the communities in which they live, such as through faith based collaborations. The speakers also discussed the importance of conducting health services data on ethnic/racial health variances. Priscilla high-

lighted a little known provision of the ACA which mandates data collection standards for race, ethnicity, primary language, sex, and disability status. The National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities National Stakeholder strategy includes data collection, research, and evaluation among its 5 strategies to achieve health equity. There is a lot of work needed to achieve health equity, but if the energy from our attendees is any indication, we are heading in the right direction! Keep the momentum going, get involved with one of these local organizations focused on health equity: Black Womens Health Imperative Latino Health Initiative of Montgomery County National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health National Coalition for LGBT Health

Network Announcements
Sunday, April 29: Support DCAF and your Co-chairs as we golf for choice at the DCAF hole-a-thon! The DC Abortion Fund is a 501(c)3 organization that provides grants to low-income women in DC, MD, and VA who cannot afford the cost of an abortion. All hole-a-thon proceeds support DCAFs hotline. Make your donation HERE! Wednesday, May 16, 6 pm: As part of Spring Week of WIN, join the Women's Health Policy & Government Relations Networks for our speed-networking event: Speed-date a WINer in Policy/ Advocacy! Stay tuned for more details on the WINlist!

Recent Womens Health Action on the Hill Healthy WINers

April is: Sexual Assault Awareness Month: One in four girls and one in six boys will be a victim of sexual assault before they reach the age of 18. The goal of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. Locally, the DC Rape Crisis Center provides resources and support for survivors. National Autism Awareness Month: Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause of autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today. Visit the Autism society to learn how you can get involved. March 20: House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources held a hearing, No-Cost Improvements to Child Support Enforcement. March 21: House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on the FY2013 budget for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). March 27: House Judiciary Committee approved the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (H.R. 2299). March 27: House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights approved en bloc the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act (H.R. 1940) and the Donald M. Payne International Food Assistance Improvement Act (H.R. 4141). March 27: House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing, Examining the Current State of Cosmetics.
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Source: Womens Policy Inc.

Upcoming Health Policy Events

April 21, 12-4 pm: HHS Office of Minority Health Youth Health Festival, Young. Healthy. YOUnited. Education Campus and Multicultural Center 3101 16th St NW, Washington, D.C. April 23-24: Spring Health Braintrust and National Minority Quality Forum Ninth Annual Health Disparities Leadership Summit. Washington, D.C. Learn more. April 26-29: National Hispanic Medical Association 16th Annual Conference, Innovations that Improve the Health of Hispanics, Families and Communities. Washington, D.C. Learn more. April 30-May 1: IoM Public Workshop, The Contagion of Violence. Washington, D.C. Learn more. May 13 - 19: National Women's Health Week. Learn More. May 16: Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association (MWPHA) 2012 Annual Meeting, Healthy Women, the Cornerstone of Strong Societies: Setting the Agenda for Womens Health . Washington, D.C. Learn more.

New Health Policy Resources

From Kaiser Family Foundation: New data notetakes a closer look at what the public thinks of the Individual Mandate New brief provides a side-by-side comparison of recent proposals to transform Medicare into a premium support program and slow future growth in Medicare spending New interactive tool allows users to track funds awarded by the ACA to a variety of governmental and private entities March 2012 update on health disparities New analysis examines state Medicaid coverage of routine HIV screening New brief examines the role of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in ensuring seniors financial security Two newly updated briefs provide an in-depth look at Medicaid/Medicare dual-eligible beneficiaries New Health Affairs and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Brief: Premium Support in Medicare Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation Issue Brief: New Report Shows Affordable Care Act Has Expanded Insurance Coverage Among Young Adults of All Races and Ethnicities White House Report Briefs: Benefits of the ACA for specific populations.

Meet a WINner in Womens Health!

What does your job entail? I advocate for and against legislation/ policies that impact victims and survivors of domestic violence, and advocate for the DC government to invest money in providing services to victims and survivors of domestic violence. What is the most challenging aspect of your job? Most rewarding?

What are your long-term professional interests? Serving in whatever capacity will best allow me to continue to affect positive change in the world, Im still figuring out whether that will be in the nonprofit world, government, or as a writer. What advice would you give to other young women pursuing a career in anti-DV advocacy? Spend as much time learning how to take care of yourself as learning how to take care of and advocate for others whove experienced trauma. Antidomestic violence work can really take its toll on you if you dont prioritize your own self care. How does your work with the Rainbow Response Coalition help to inform your anti-DV advocacy? Its certainly my passion, which helps to re-energize me when Ive had a tough advocacy loss, but I think focusing on marginalized and under-served populations is a good exercise that forces me to always be evaluating the unintended consequences for all special populations of any policy proposal.

Amy Loudermilk Senior Policy Specialist DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCCADV) You have a MSW, why did you choose to enter policy/advocacy? Ive been concerned about social injustices from a young age and knew that I would spend my life advocating for others in the policy realm. Getting a degree in macro (policy-related) social work allowed me to learn about policy work with a social justice focus (in other words, dont ask me to do therapy because I have no idea!). How did you come to join DCCADV? I worked for a local domestic violence (DV) shelter while in graduate school and soon after completion the job sort of fell into my lap.

Sometimes its very hard to keep your composure and talk to people in positions of power who have such anti-progressive views and say such inflammatory things. The most rewarding part of my job is when I get to witness survivors testify at the DC Council and display their amazing courage and strength. What skills/training have been most useful in your anti-DV advocacy? How to develop rapport with all individuals and build good working relationships social work school definitely taught me those skills and it is the absolute cornerstone in being an effective lobbyist. What skills/training do you wish youd had prior to your position? Doing budget advocacy every year, I wish I had taken more math courses in college and grad school!

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