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“Black Family Life Health Disparities Conference to Launch Healthy People 2020:
Risks, Prevention and Intervention”
Paine College
January 20-22, 2011
By nearly every measure, the wellbeing of Augusta’s Black community is
in a state of crisis as reflected by the increase in youth violence, high rate in
teen pregnancy and single parent families, increasing rates of HIV/AIDS and other
less than optimal health conditions. Addressing the disparities in health care access,
underutilization of services, and unequal treatment require collaborative strategies
for academicians, communities, and healthcare professionals.
The conference theme reflects the notion that, taking into consideration the existence
of racism, and socioeconomic barriers; strengthening families is a necessary component
of the movement to reduce the impact of health disparities in the community. The
overarching goal is to raise awareness of risk factors, preventative methods and
best practices needed to inspire leadership, set a research agenda and effectively
organize all components of the Black community.
This is to be a broad inclusive event and will bring together all those concerned
with improving the physical and mental well being of the Black family. To that end,
oral and poster presentations will represent: health disparities activists, educators,
health officials, the faith community, Black Greek organizations, students and youth
workers; along with the four New Tools New Visions2 HBCU campus/ community partnerships
currently funded by the W.K.Kellogg foundation. (Albany, Augusta, Fort Valley and
Savannah).
Participants will be charged with the tasks of defining strategies to eliminate
obstacles from and creating good policies for African Americans and other persons
of African Ancestry to develop healthy families.
Using the Healthy People 2020 objectives as a foundation, the conference will provide
a venue to initiate discussions as to the dynamic interaction between building healthier
family structures and eradicating obstacles to healthier Black families.
While myriad areas of health disparities will be addressed, special attention will
be paid to four focus areas:
- Violence as a public health issue
- HIV/AIDS
- Mental Health Disparities
- Underutilization of Preventative Care
As a broad based activity, presenters will take a proactive stance in addressing
critical matters corresponding to the creation of stronger Black Families and improved
health conditions. Those presenters will include but not be limited to various members
of the local Augusta community, Paine College faculty and students along with representatives
of the Medical College of Georgia health system.
New Tools New Visions2 Augusta is a member of the national Healthy People 2020 Consortium.
Paine College is a partner of the US Department of Health & Human Services Office
of Minority Health’s National Partnership for Action (NPA) to End Health Disparities.
This event supports the Office of Minority Health’s emphasis on increasing awareness
of health disparities and strengthening leadership at all levels.
Invited Speakers
Special invited speakers include leaders who’ve influenced the work of NTNV2 Augusta
in various capacities such as:
- Rear Admiral Penny Slade-Sawyer of the US Dept. Health and Human Services (HHS)
*confirmed
- Dr. Joseph Hobbs, Vice Dean, Primary Care and Community Affairs Chairperson, Family
Medicine, GAFP Tollison Distinguished Chair; Professor, Family Medicine, Medical
College of Georgia
- Dr. Sylvia A. Flack - Winston Salem University Center of Excellence for the Elimination
of Health Disparities - *confirmed
- Dr. Eugene Herrington Co-Project Director. HBCU Center For Excellence In Substance
Abuse & Mental Health, Morehouse College. *confirmed
- Dr. David Satcher, 16TH Surgeon General; Director, Satcher Health Leadership Institute
at Morehouse School of Medicine *confirmation pending
New Tools New Visions2 Augusta is a Paine College/Community Partnership Funded by
the W.K.Kellogg Foundation.
For information contact:
Dr. Adeleri Onisegun
NTNV2 Project Director
Coordinator, Department of Psychology
(706) 821-8281; aonisegun@paine.edu
Mr. Terence Dicks
NTNV2 Community Liaison
Chair, Steering Committee
(706) 306 5731; tad89@lycos.com
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