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NASTAD
has long supported state and local health
departments' responses to the HIV/AIDS and
viral hepatitis epidemics among racial and
ethnic minority communities in the United
States. Most recently, in 2006, NASTAD updated
its strategic map to reflect a redoubled
approach to addressing health disparities
by sharpening examination of the complex
and varying co-factors that often drive
HIV and viral hepatitis acquisition across
racial and ethnic groups. The organization
is committed to addressing this important
issue, as evident through a variety of robust
program activities, targeted technical assistance
efforts, advisory groups, coalition activities,
policy and advocacy, as well as a range
of publications funded through cooperative
agreements with the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Office
of Minority Health (OMH). These activities
seek to increase synergy between public
health, community stakeholders, as well
as the tripartite federal, state, and local
governments and the populations most impacted
by the nation's HIV and viral hepatitis
epidemics: African American, Latino, Native
American, and Asian and Pacific Islander
communities. NASTAD recognizes that ongoing
dialogue and programming to address the
changing and complex demographics of the
epidemic must also build upon opportunities
for leadership while at the same time deconstructing
social barriers that erode our best efforts
to affect change.
General objectives of NASTAD’s racial
and ethnic health disparities program include:
- Increasing leadership development among minority staff in state and territorial health departments
- Developing policy and program recommendations that address racial and ethnic health disparities
- Reducing stigma and creating more culturally appropriate approaches to HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment activities
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