Tag: latino health

LCH participates in Latino Legislative Day: Dr.Morales presents on Long COVID

The Latino Civic Alliance hosted its Latino Legislative Day in Olympia, Washington on January 22, 2024. Hundreds of participants attended the advocacy event, which featured speakers including, Representative Julio Cortes and Governor Jay Inslee, Chief Justice Steve Gonzalez, Representative Lillian Ortiz- Self, Representative Bill Ramos, Representative Alex Ybarra, Representative Emily Alvarado, Representative Sharlett Mena, and Senator Rebecca Saldana.

Dr. Leo Morales, co-director of the Latino Center for Health (LCH), presented at the event and shared the findings of the LCH’s Long COVID Study. The study produced substantial data on the prevalence of long COVID in Washington state’s Latinx communities, including that 41% of survey respondents reported symptom duration consistent with long COVID.

On behalf of the LCH, Dr. Morales advocated for several legislative recommendations, including:

  • Expanding no-cost community vaccine efforts by increasing funding for the Care-a-Van mobile health program, to help prevent COVID, RSV, and influenza infections.
  • Broadening provider and community education on Long COVID, in addition to greater investment in clinical care for long COVID, to help measure and understand the impact of Long COVID.
  • Expanding community-based screening for obesity, pre-diabetes, diabetes, and hypertension with navigation assistance to receipt of medical care (telehealth), to reduce cardiometabolic disease and diabetes.
  • Full funding of state Medicaid-like and health insurance exchange programs for undocumented immigrants, to expand insurance coverage to vulnerable populations.

These efforts are part of the LCH’s continued commitment to bridge evidence with policymaking in Washington state to positively impact Latino health and well-being.

You can download the slides presented by Dr.Morales below.

LCH Latino Legislative Day SlidesDownload

Cobertura de salud para todos en Washington sin importar el estatus migratorio

In English

A partir del 1 de noviembre, todas las personas que vivan en Washington podrán adquirir un seguro médico a través de Washington Healthplanfinder. ¿Tiene preguntas? ¿Necesita ayuda para inscribirse? Mire para saber cómo conectarse con un profesional de confianza en su comunidad o con el Centro de atención al cliente de Washington Healthplanfinder. Encuentre un navegador o corredor en su área aquí: https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/us….

A partir del 1 de Noviembre, todos los residentes del estado de Washington, independientemente de su estatus migratorio, podrán comprar un seguro médico y dental a través de Washington Healthplanfinder. 

Dos nuevos programas ayudarán a los inmigrantes a obtener cobertura médica en 2024. Las personas sin seguro pueden ser elegibles para uno de estos programas: 

Programa de expansión de acceso a planes médicos y dentales 

Una nueva exención federal, primera en su tipo en los Estados Unidos, brindará nuevas oportunidades para los residentes de Washington que no cuentan con seguro. A partir del 1 de noviembre de 2023, todas las personas en Washington, independientemente de su ciudadanía o estatus migratorio, podrán adquirir un seguro médico y dental a través de Washington Healthplanfinder, para obtener cobertura a partir de enero de 2024. Además, la cobertura será más asequible, con ahorros adicionales en las primas mensuales para hogares con ingresos de hasta al 250% del nivel federal de pobreza (FPL). 

Programa de expansión de acceso al seguro Washington Apple Health

La Autoridad de Atención Médica de Washington (HCA) ampliará la oferta de cobertura médica independientemente del estatus migratorio. A partir del 1 de julio de 2024, los habitantes indocumentados de Washington con ingresos inferiores al 138% del nivel federal de pobreza (FLP) podrán ser elegibles para la cobertura de Washington Apple Health (el Medicaid de Washington). 

 Más información: 

Health coverage for all Washingtonians, regardless of citizenship or immigration status

En Español

Starting on November 1st, all people living in Washington will be able to purchase health insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder. Find a Navigator or Broker in your area here: https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/us….

Starting Nov. 1, 2023, all Washington residents, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, have access to purchase qualified health and dental plans from Washington Healthplanfinder.

These two new programs will help immigrants get healthcare coverage in 2024. If you are uninsured, you may be eligible for one of these two new programs.

What’s New?

Health Plan and Dental Plan Expansion

New first-in-kind federal waiver aims to improve access for uninsured Washingtonians. Starting November 1, 2023, everyone who lives in Washington state regardless of citizenship or immigration status will have the opportunity to buy health and dental insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder, for coverage starting January 2024. Premium assistance may also be available to undocumented adults with incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL).

Washington Apple Health Expansion

The Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) will expand healthcare coverage regardless of immigration status. Starting July 1, 2024, undocumented Washingtonians with income under 138% of the federal poverty level (FLP) may be eligible for Washington Apple Health (Washington Medicaid).

Want to learn more?

• Flyers in English and Spanish
• Videos in English and Spanish
• Learn more about Healthplanfinder
• Additional resources in different languages

LCH Long COVID Study- What You Need to Know

Event Recap

On November 3rd, the Latino Center for Health (LCH) hosted the Latinx Long COVID Symposium—Study Findings & Pathways to Health. The interactive event featured in-person attendance at Heritage University, and remote attendance via Zoom, and convened 50 local community leaders, elected officials, health officials, and key stakeholders from across the state.

The symposium presented the findings from the long COVID study conducted by the LCH, which surveyed Latino patients from across Washington state to determine the prevalence of long COVID and its impacts on the physical, mental, and social well-being of those affected. The study was conducted in partnership with SeaMar Community Health Centers, Yakima Valley Farmworkers Clinic, the Allen Institute for Immunology​, DataStat, and the UW Medicine Long COVID Clinic​.

Key Takeaways

Some key takeaways from the long COVID study are:

  • 41% of survey respondents reported symptom duration consistent with long COVID.
  • Fatigue, muscle pain, anxiety, and sleep difficulty were the four most commonly reported long COVID symptoms. See figure below.

A graph of a graph showing the amount of subject reporting Description automatically generated with medium confidence

  • 29% of respondents with long COVID symptoms reported having a change in their health of ‘‘worse’ or ‘much worse’ after their first COVID infection, compared to 7% of those without long COVID symptoms.
  • Respondents with long COVID symptoms were more likely to report changes across quality of life measures including pain, mental health, sleep, social function, cognitive function, physical function, and fatigue. See figure below.

  • 39% of respondents with long COVID symptoms reported being very worried about losing their job if they were to miss two days of work due to illness.

Symposium Discussions

Towards the end of the symposium, participants moved into breakout rooms and discussed strategic next steps. LCH notetakers transcribed these conversations and plan to take the insights and input from the wide range of voices that participated to highlight areas of need and inform policy recommendations.

What’s Next?

The LCH will disseminate several materials related to the long COVID study and symposium in the coming weeks, including:

  • A policy brief, accessible via the LCH website
  • An infographic, highlighting key insights from the study 
  • A full recording of the Symposium 

If you have questions regarding the study, symposium, or future collaboration with the Latino Center for Health, please email latcntr@uw.edu.

Materials

Slides presented at the long COVID Symposium by Dr. Leo Morales of the Latino Center for Health, and Jazmine Castillo and​ Samir Racid Zaim of the Allen Institute for Immunology:

LCH-Long-COVID-Symposium-SlidesDownload

Slides presented at the long COVID Symposium by Dr. Janna Friedly of UW Medicine:

Janna-Friedly-SlidesDownload

Hablando con Dr. Gino Aisenberg y Dr. Leo Morales, Co-Directores del Latino Center for Health

Hoy, en nuestro programa estrella, “Hablado con la Dra. Ponce-Gonzalez”, tenemos unos gran invitados, Dr. Gino Aisenberg y Dr. Leo Morales, los Co-Directores del Latino Center for Health. LCH es una voz líder en los problemas de salud actuales y emergentes que afectan a las comunidades latinas en el estado de Washington. LCH es el único centro de investigación interdisciplinario en ciencias de salud en la región con un enfoque singular en la promoción de la salud de los latinos. Ve la entrevista aquí.

2023 LCH Fellowship​ Graduation & Panelist Meeting

The LCH Fellowship Graduation & Panelist meeting is took place on June 2nd, 2023 and featured contributions from Natasha Ludwig Barron, Ph.D., MPH, Gabino Abarca, MPH, and Tomás A. Madrigal, PH.D.

On June 2nd, the 2023 scholars of the Latino Center for Health Graduate Student Fellowship Program met for the third time for a panelist Q&A and to celebrate the graduation of its scholars. The esteemed lineup of panelists included Tomás A. Madrigal, PH.D. and former LCH scholars Natasha Ludwig Barron Ph.D., MPH, and Gabino Abarca, MPH. The discussions covered a broad range of topics including community-based research, navigating graduate school, networking, and community building efforts.

The meeting also celebrated the graduation of six of the 12 scholars in this year’s LCH Fellowship Program. The graduating scholars are:

  • Diana Flores, Doctor of Dental Surgery, University of Washington, School of Dentistry
  • Carlos Vargas, Master of Social Work, University of Washington, School of Social Work
  • Ximena Vargas, Master of Prosthetics and Orthotics​, University of Washington, School of Medicine
  • Adrina Petersen, Master of Social Work, University of Washington, Tacoma School of Social Work
  • Deanna Vasquez Chavez, Bachelor of Social Work, Heritage University, School of Social Work
  • Enrique Licona, Bachelor of Social Work, Heritage University, School of Social Work

The LCH would like to congratulate the graduating scholars on the completion of their respective programs and wish them success in their ventures moving forward. We are excited to see what contributions their leadership and expertise will make on their communities.

Additionally, the LCH is proud of the strong academic performance of 2023 scholars who will be continuing their studies. These scholars are:

  • Kimberly Henriquez, DNP(c), University of Washington School of Nursing
  • Jenna Wildeman, PharmD(c), University of Washington School of Pharmacy
  • Ana Sandoval Zazueta, MD(c), University of Washington School of Medicine
  • Stephanie Bazalar, MBA(c), University of Washington, Bothell School of Business
  • Gabriela León, MD(c), Washington State University, Floyd College of Medicine
  • Destiny Alejandra Hernandez, MD(c), Washington State University, Floyd College of Medicine

We would like to offer our continued support as a resource as you continue your academic journey. If you would like to view the meeting in its entirety, please see the recording at the top of the page.

Long COVID in the Latinx Community: Summit in Review

Long COVID in the Latinx Community: An Unaddressed Consequence of COVID was a virtual summit hosted on May 5th by the Latino Center for Health to discuss the impacts of long COVID in the Latinx community in Washington state.

The summit brought together a diverse group of attendees from various fields and backgrounds, all sharing a common goal of better understanding and addressing the challenges faced by individuals affected by long COVID. The summit provided an enriching platform for open discussions, exchange of knowledge, and future collaborations between health officials, medical professionals, community leaders, elected officials, and key community stakeholders.

Event Overview

The summit included remarks and presentations from several honored guests:

  • Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, Chief of Health Science at the Executive Office of Health and Science at the Washington State DOH
  • Janna L. Friedly, Physiatrist at UW Medicine’s Rehabilitation Medicine clinics at Harborview Medical Center and a Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine 
  • Aarthi Talla, Principal Bioinformatician at The Allen Institute for Immunology 
  • Lisa McCorkell, Co-Founder and Long COVID Patient-Researcher at Patient-Led Research Collaborative
  • And a presentation by students of Frank Martinez, CTO at Carina and Guest Faculty Member at the UW iSchool 

In addition to presentations, small group breakout room sessions were held throughout the day. These allowed attendees from different professional backgrounds to share expertise and perspectives and serve as a springboard for collaboration.

Attendees hailed from a wide variety of organizations, including The Allen Institute for Immunology, Yakima Valley Farmworkers Clinic, Centro Cultural Mexicano, the Washington State Department of Health, and more.

Thematic Analysis

LCH-Long-COVID-Summit-OverviewDownload

Long COVID Resources

The Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration Ends May 11, 2023. What Does This Mean For You?

End of the Public Health
Emergency- Key Messages for the PublicDownload
Vacuna Contra El COVID-19 – Datos ClaveDownload
End of Public Health Emergency FlyerDownload
Fin De La Emergencia De Salud Pública Por El COVID-19Download

Project BRIDGE

New Latine Storytelling Group Launches COVID-19 Interview Series

Learn More About Project BRIDGE

Project BRIDGE is a new Seattle-based digital storytelling group formed by a team of Latine professionals dedicated to sharing under-told stories to advocate for our community’s health and research needs. This study was supported in part by funding from the Latino Center for Health.

Over the past year, Project BRIDGE interviewed six Latinas from around Washington state on their experiences as advocates, artists, researchers, mothers, and women dedicated to fighting for their communities on topics related to collaboration, decolonization, health care, migration, and navigating the pandemic.

Part I of BRIDGE’s three-part COVID-19 Interview Series highlights two advocates for undocumented detainees: Maru Mora Villalpando, Immigrant Community Organizer with La Resistencia, and Angelina Snodgrass Godoy, researcher, professor, and Director at the UW Center for Human Rights. In Part I: Advocating for Undocumented Detainees,  they discuss the relationship between community and academia and the barriers and facilitators of their work.

Watch the video below to hear Maru’s experiences advocating for her community of undocumented detainees and navigating barriers amplified by COVID-19: “The conditions in prisons don’t make you healthy; actually, they do the opposite.” — Maru Mora Villalpando

Part I – Episode I: Maru Mora Villalpando, La Resistencia Advocate + Immigrant Community Organizer

Click here to watch Episodes II + III where you’ll hear more from Maru and meet Angelina Snodgrass Godoy’s experiences as a human rights researcher.

The pandemic brought to light deep inequities in our systems. As we respond to the health needs in the Latine community, we hope our partners’ stories inform, expand, and inspire growth for advocates, researchers, and allies.

Visit the website by clicking here to learn more about our work and watch the rest of the COVID-19 Interview Series Project BRIDGE.

Project BRIDGE is a collaboration between the University of Washington, the Consulate of Mexico in Seattle, and community partners dedicated to advancing Latines in WA and beyond. BRIDGE is funded by the Population Health Initiative, Department of Communications, and Latino Center for Health at the University of Washington. 

Please contact Nathalia Jimenez for all queries at njimen@uw.edu

Latinx Leaders Across WA Call for Culturally Responsive Policies for COVID-19 Recovery

Latinx leaders from across the state share stories of loss and resilience while identifying new paths to recovery for their local communities.

University of Washington, Seattle: As the Latinx community continues to face disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders from across Washington state are calling for culturally responsive policies and resources to promote health equity for urban and rural Latinx communities statewide.

As of December 14, 2021, Latinos in Washington state account for 22% of COVID-19 cases while only 13% of the state’s population, and more than three times the mortality rate compared with non-Hispanic whites on an age-adjusted basis.

As part of a virtual symposium hosted by the Latino Center for Health in October, community leaders gained a collective understanding of the ongoing needs and shared stories of resilience in our community. Discussions centered around four topics significant to our Latinx communities in pandemic times:

  • COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts
  • Mental Health & Wellbeing
  • Return-to-School
  • Mutual Aid

LCH published four policy briefs highlighting the symposium’s main takeaways—along with key policy recommendations that aim to inform COVID recovery resource allocation and policymaking necessary to promote health equity for Latinx communities in Washington. Key policy recommendations include:

  • Increase multicultural and multilingual state programming and proactive information distribution (including emergency preparedness and response programming).
  • Increase the number of multicultural, multilingual WA therapists, psychologists, and other mental health practitioners and support the provision of telemental health services.
  • Mandate paid sick days for all employees (regardless of documentation status) needing time off for vaccinations and post-vaccination side-effects for themselves and their dependents.
  • Develop and implement culturally responsive, trauma-informed training for all educators and school staff at publicly funded schools.
  • Increase funding for community health worker initiatives in Latinx communities. Funding should go directly to community-based organizations that currently train and coordinate community health workers

“It’s important to invest in the people and grassroots organizations that have been on the ground for years,” said Marisol Lister, symposium panelist and Development and Communications Coordinator at Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN). “We know this is not going to be the last crisis that our communities will face.”

To learn more about Latinos’ experiences surrounding COVID-19 in WA state and additional recommendations for promoting health equity, visit our COVID-19 policy brief series page.