Tag: policy

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

LCH welcomes Antoinette Angulo as inaugural Policy Director

After nearly three years of leadership as the Community Partnership Specialist at the Latino Center for Health, Antoinette Angulo has been named the Center’s inaugural Policy Director effective September 1, 2021. Antoinette, a Chicana from Los Angeles, is an experienced public health practitioner and highly respected activist in Seattle, WA. She earned her MPH from the University of Washington and studied health policy at UC Berkeley.

Antoinette has over 20 years of experience working with Latinx populations in the U.S. and in Latin America in clinical, research, and community health settings. She is experienced in partnering with stakeholders such as impacted community members, promotores, restaurant and hospitality workers, and healthcare workers to co-produce credible data to inform policymakers and advance health policy at the community, state, and national levels. Most recently, she led the Increasing the Latinx Physician Workforce NOW project for LCH, which culminated in the passing of Senate Bill 5228 and House Bill 1129 in the 2021 WA state legislative session.

As the inaugural Policy Director for the Latino Center for Health, Antoinette is pleased to lead the Center’s efforts in bridging evidence with policymaking to promote the health and well-being of Latinx communities in WA state.

Dr. Morales presents at Latino Legislative Day 2021

Latino Legislative Day took place on March 16 this year, with a packed agenda including researchers, community advocates, elected officials, and even a Mariachi performance.

You can watch all the presentations, keynote speakers, and performances, by following this link: https://fb.watch/4idIbLOxfe/

A slide of Dr. Morales’ presentation
Dr. Morales Slides for Latino Legislative Day 2021:Download