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March 17, 2015
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AAPCHO Helps Kick-off First-Ever AAPI Nexus Journal Issue on Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON, D.C. March 17, 2015 – The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), in collaboration with the UCLA Asian American Studies Center and other partners, launched the AAPI Nexus Journal’s special issue on Community Health Centers (CHCs) serving vulnerable Asian Americans & Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (AA&NHOPIs). CHCs provide primary health care to millions of individuals who are low-income, uninsured, and limited English proficient. Nearly 900,000 AA&NHOPIs are served by CHCs across the country.
At the National Press Club today, journal authors elaborated on themes featured in the special edition entitled, “Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander Communities and Federally Qualified Health Centers.” The issue, which commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the CHC movement, features topics ranging from health education and outreach strategies for AA&NHOPI communities, to the use of Health Information Technology in the CHC setting, to ACA enrollment strategies.
“This issue provides scientific and community-grounded evidence demonstrating the key role health centers play in providing much-needed care to AA&NHOPIs,” said Dr. Ninez Ponce, professor in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and co-guest editor of the journal. “We hope this evidence will drive change in health care policy so underserved communities, can get the care they need to improve their health.”
The journal’s release comes as CHCs are at risk of losing 70 percent of their funding. CHCs provide health care services to a quarter of all AA&NHOPIs in poverty across the United States.
“The effects of this loss will be severe,” said Jeffrey Caballero, executive director at AAPCHO, adding “One in four of all AA&NHOPIs in poverty are served at CHCs and many of these patients would seek higher-cost emergency care if it weren’t for CHCs. If Congress does not sustain funding for this safety net of providers, many clinics will be forced to shut their doors.”
About AAPCHO
AAPCHO is a national association of 35 community health organizations dedicated to promoting advocacy, collaboration, and leadership that improves the health status and access of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islanders in the United States. For more information on AAPCHO and its Guiding Principles and Values, please visit www.aapcho.org. The issue was co-sponsored by AAPCHO CHCs: Asian Health Services, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and Waimanalo Health Center,
About UCLA Asian American Studies Center
The UCLA Asian American Studies Center, founded in 1969, is dedicated to research, teaching, publications and other endeavors that enrich the understanding of the history, cultural heritage and experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The center is recognized today as the premier research and teaching institution in the field of Asian American studies. For more information about the Center, go to www.aasc.ucla.edu.
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