Eliminating Health Disparities:

Workshop gives grant recipients training, a chance to showcase community projects

Major health issues such as cancer, diabetes, infant mortality, HIV/AIDS and STDs affect minority populations in North Carolina disproportionately, presenting a major healthcare challenge for all of North Carolina. In response, the North Carolina General Assembly established the Community-Focused Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (CFEHDI) to focus greater attention on the elimination of minority health disparities and to build the capacity of local public health departments, American Indian tribes, faith-based organizations and community-based organizations.

The N.C. Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, which administers the CFEHDI grants, has awarded 61 competitive grants to local organizations for program planning and capacity building. Representative Thomas E. Wright, chairman of the Minority Health Advisory Council, hosted a workshop and project showcase for the grantees on May 18 in Raleigh.

Participants heard from state leaders including Rep. Wright, DHHS Secretary Carmen Odom, and State Health Director Leah Devlin, as well as community leaders. They learned about reporting requirements, fiscal accountability, and program evaluation, and had the opportunity to both explain their own projects and to learn about other community projects during the day-long event.

As executive director of the N.C. Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, Barbara Pullen-Smith welcomed participants to the training event, the theme of which was “Healthy Communities. EveryOne Matters.”

Rep. Thomas Wright, chairman of the N.C. Minority Health Advisory Council and a tireless leader in working to eliminate health disparities, praised the attendees for the good work they do and encouraged them to keep on making a difference.

Cheryl Emanuel was one of the many community participants providing input and asking questions during the sessions.

Chatham Hospital’s Hispanic Health Initiative received one of the community grants.

The Cumberland County Detention Center was another grantee highlighting its project at the event.

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Last Modified: June 2, 2006