11th Annual Health Summit of Minority ' Communities Hosted in Knoxville

Knoxville, TN

Today, the ‘ Tennessee Department of Health’s Office of Minority Health, along with Black Health Care Commission and the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators, Inc., will open the 11th Annual Health Summit of Minority Communities at the Knoxville Marriott, 500 Hill Avenue S.E. in downtown Knoxville. The event runs through Friday, August 18, 2006.

“This Summit marks its first appearance in Knoxville, a community whose minority population, like many others in Tennessee, suffers from health disparities at alarming rates,” said Health Commissioner Kenneth S. Robinson, M.D. “This is an opportunity to showcase not only what the Department and its partners have done to address these disparities, but also to show what we plan to do in the future.”

This year’s theme, “Embracing a Common Destination: Improving Health Outcomes for Communities of Color,” will be addressed in the various workshops, presentations and speakers throughout the conference.

Participants will learn strategies and solutions in order to positively impact a community’s health. Some of the nation’s top university researchers, health professionals, and experts on disparities will present workshops, trainings and data on health issues such as infant mortality, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and sickle cell anemia. Other topics to be addressed include suicide and the black church, men’s health, disparities in women, domestic violence, substance abuse and women, the faith community and economic empowerment, Medicare, learning disabilities, mental illness in the black community and violence prevention.

“The Office of Minority Health is also pleased to announce the creation of the Institute for Healthy Communities,” said Robbie Jackman, director of the Office of Minority Health. “This new program offered by the Department of Health provides ongoing cultural competency training and evaluation support to agencies and communities who are trying to better address health disparities.”

Released last month, “The Populations of Color in Tennessee: Health Status Report,” will provide a framework for addressing health disparities statewide and locally. The report details the demographics of the state, and the mortality rates, causes of death, birth-related indicators, financial indicators and the risk and disease disparities evident within those demographics. The report also features unique community input and is the first report to feature such community involvement by the Office of Minority Health. Individual day passes and on-site registration are available. For complete information about the 11th Anniversary Health Summit of Minority Communities, contact the Department of Health at (615) 741-3111.