Two New York State health agencies launch series of projects that seek to reduce racial health disparities

May 13 2009

The Perinatal Network of Monroe County and the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency in New York state on Friday will unveil a series of 13 initiatives that aim to reduce racial health disparities, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports.

The projects were developed by a panel of nearly 100 health care providers, insurers, parents, religious leaders and human service workers who met from October to January to discuss public policy and neighborhood health issues, according to the Democrat and Chronicle.

One of the projects calls for a study of workplace maternity leave policies and their effect on infant health. Patricia Brantingham, executive director of the Perinatal Network, said the study could lead to the development of a federal policy on paid maternity leave. Other projects will offer health education among religious communities; create an online doctor referral programs; teach patients how to manage their medical records and chronic conditions; examine ways to reduce stress; and provide communitywide showings of a documentary about the causes of racial health disparities.

A budget for the projects has not yet been determined, but funding will come from state and federal grants awarded to the two agencies, Brantingham said. Several projects have already begun, and others will launch in the next several months, the Democrat and Chronicle reports (Wang, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, 5/13).