Library

Reports: Health

African-American babies
Wilder Research, July 2012, 8 pp.
A 2011 report provides a snapshot of the status of African-American babies relative to other babies in St. Paul and Minneapolis. A 2012 report presents the results of community conversations about raising strong and healthy children. more info >

Health inequities in the Twin Cities
Wilder Research, May 2012, 56 pp.
Commissioned by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation of Minnesota, this study examines the economic and social factors that influence health outcomes in the Twin Cities region, and finds that neighborhood, income, education, and race all matter. Opportunities and challenges in reducing health inequities are also discussed. The original study looked at 2000 census data; it was updated in 2012 using 2010 census data or the most recent data available. The update also includes a supplement on three “upstream” factors that contribute to health inequities: access to healthy foods, opportunities for physical activity and social connectedness. more info >

National healthcare disparities report 2011
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, March 2012, 248 pp.
Reports on trends in health care quality and access and reducing health care disparities, and presents novel strategies for improving quality and reducing disparities. more info >

Minnesota legislative report card on racial equity
February 2012, 36 pp.
Annual report that looks at the previous Minnesota legislative session, focusing on advancing racial equity. Individual legislators and the governor are graded on their support for bills to support education equity, health equity, economic and wealth equity, civil rights and criminal justice, and American Indian Tribal Sovereignty. more info >

The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bond: Focus on children in poverty
American Academy of Pediatrics, December 2011, 12 pp.
Discusses the importance of play and addresses issues that may deprive children who live in poverty from gaining the maximum benefit from play. more info >

The high quality of life in Minnesota: Not equally shared by all
Minnesota Compass, December 2011, 2 pp.
In Minnesota, we take pride in our belief that all people have opportunities to become successful, but how well are we really doing? If you look at key statistics measuring our overall well-being, Minnesota ranks near the top in most categories. But dig a little deeper and you uncover glaring and persistent disparities. more info >

Health status of rural Minnesotans
Minnesota Department of Health, September 2011, 90 pp.
Summarizes key health indicators, health behaviors, and other health determinants of rural Minnesotans. more info >

Healthy food, healthy communities: Promising strategies to improve access to fresh, healthy food and transform communities (expanded version
PolicyLink, July 2011, 84 pp.
Presents promising programs and policies that work to increase access to healthy foods in underserved communities. Includes case studies. more info >

Cigarette smoking interventions among diverse populations
American Journal of Health Promotion, May 2011
This special issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion focuses on how to effectively reduce tobacco's impact on populations who are disproportionately affected by tobacco use. more info >

Women in America: Indicators of social and economic well-being
U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, March 2011, 97 pp.
This report provides a statistical picture of women in America in five critical areas: demographic and family changes, education, employment, health, and crime and violence. more info >

Big ideas: Game-changers for children
First Focus, September 2010, 150 pp.
In an effort to generate new and innovative ideas to improve child well-being in the United States, First Focus called upon policy thinkers to provide game-changing proposals designed to advance federal children's policy. more info >

Health reform and communities of color: Implications for racial and ethnic health disparities
Kaiser Family Foundation, September 2010, 14 pp.
Discusses parts of the health care reform law that are likely to improve access to care for people of color and have an impact on health disparities. more info >

Status of women and girls in Minnesota: Research overview
Women's Foundation of Minnesota and Center on Women & Public Policy, June 2010, 20 pp.
Provides health, safety, economic and leadership data on women and girls in Minnesota. Analysis of the measures reveals greater disparities for women of color, rural women, older women, women with disabilities, and women who identify as lesbian, bisexual or transgender. more info >

Healthy communities matter: The importance of place to the health of boys of color
The California Endowment, June 2010, 28 pp.
Highlights how the neighborhoods where African-American and Latino boys and young men grow up directly influence their health outcomes and discusses the need for comprehensive, systems-based policy solutions implemented at the community level. more info >

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Early-Life Risk Factors for Childhood Obesity, Pediatrics
Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, April 2010, 12 pp.
Looks at racial/ethnic differences in early-life risk factors for childhood obesity. more info >

The grocery gap: Who has access to healthy food and why it matters
PolicyLink, The Food Trust, February 2010, 44 pp.
Inequitable access to healthy food is a major contributor to health disparities. This report presents a large body of evidence that many low-income communities, communities of color, and sparsely populated rural areas do not have sufficient opportunities to buy healthy, affordable food. more info >

AHRQ Activities to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in health care: Program brief
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, December 2009, 6 pp.
Lists selected recent publications describing efforts to reduce health care disparities in asthma, cancer care, mental health, and more. Includes facts on the scope of health disparities and recent improvements in reducing disparities. more info >

Racial/ethnic differences in treatment for substance abuse and dependence in Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Human Services, December 2009, 24 pp.
Examines racial and ethnic differences in various aspects of the process of treatment for substance abuse or dependence in Minnesota. more info >

National healthcare disparities report 2008
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, March 2009, 300 pp.
Reports on trends in health care disparities and the degree to which health care disparities for racial and ethnic minorities and poor populations have lessoned. Chapters address the quality of and access to health care and disparities among specific populations -- including racial and ethnic minorities, low-income groups, older adults, residents of rural areas, and more -- and the specific measures used. more info >

Immunization and health disparities
Minnesota Department of Health, February 2009, 62 pp.
This report analyzes the state of immunization and immunization disparities in Minnesota and provides a set of recommendations for achieving high overall immunization rates and eliminating disparities. more info >

A Latino health report: Identifying barriers and solutions to reduce health care disparities
Chicano Latino Affairs Council, January 2009, 32 pp.
Presents the findings of eight health focus groups with Latino community members in Minnesota. The focus groups explored the causes behind barriers preventing urban and rural Latinos from gaining access to the health care system and to gather current information based on personal accounts to inform policy recommendations. more info >

Health disparities: An Asian American & Pacific Islander community response
Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, January 2009, 32 pp.
Recommendations from a Minnesota forum on Asian health disparities. Topics include health care access, health promotion, health data, health conditions, professional development, and emergency preparedness. more info >

2007 Health care disparities report for Minnesota Health Care Programs
Minnesota Community Measurement, June 2008, 66 pp.
Presents Minnesota statewide and medical group rates of performance for patients insured through the Minnesota Health Care Program and reports on differences in medical group rates of care provided to MHCP patients as compared to patients insured through other purchasers. more info >

Status of girls in Minnesota
Women's Foundation of Minnesota, April 2008, 68 pp.
Examines the economic, social, physical and psychological well-being of girls in Minnesota. Includes data and recommendations for policy change to improve the status of Minnesota's girls. more info >

The fall and rise of U.S. inequities in premature mortality: 1960-2002
Harvard School of Public Health, February 2008, 15 pp.
This report refutes the idea that health inequities inevitably widen or shrink as the overall health of a population improves. Instead disparities can rise or fall, dependent upon many factors. Findings from this report can be used to inform health policies and programs in America. more info >

Promoting health equity: A Resource to help communities address social determinants of health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 2008, 116 pp.
Workbook for people interested in addressing social, economic, and environmental conditions in order to promote health and achieve health equity. The report includes case studies of existing programs, highlights lessons learned from communities working on these issues, and provides information and tools to develop, implement and evaluate interventions that address the social determinants of health equality. more info >

Populations of color in Minnesota: Health status report
Minnesota Department of Health, November 2006, 14 pp.
An annual update of the health status of populations of color in Minnesota. Data include: birth-related health indicators; death rates and cause of death; cancer incidence; and health insurance rates. more info >

The Imperatives of reducing health disparities through prevention: Challenges, implications, and opportunities OCTOBER 2006
Prevention Institute, October 2006, 36 pp.
This paper focuses on key community factors that can play a pivotal role in reducing health disparities. It identifies strategies and emerging approaches to improving those factors in communities. more info >

Racial and ethnic disparities in children's mental health
Wilder Research, October 2006, 16 pp.
Children from minority families are one-third to one-half as likely to receive mental health care as white youth. This briefing outlines some contributing factors and steps that can be taken to help reduce disparities. more info >

Improving children's health: Understanding children's health disparities and promising approaches to address them
Children's Defense Fund, June 2006, 85 pp.
Provides an overview of health disparities and determinants of health outcomes, specifically focusing on children's health. It includes data from the National Health Interview Survey, and strategies to reduce disparities. more info >

Growing Up Healthy in Minnesota
Wilder Research, March 2005, 12 pp.
Key results and lessons learned from Growing Up Healthy in Minnesota, an initiative of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation to provide and increase awareness and access to preventive health and dental care. Outlines the methods, results, and learnings of nine organizations around the state that received grants. Focused particularly on the needs of immigrant communities and communities of color. more info >

A Community approach to address health disparities: Toolkit for health and resilience in vulnerable environments
Prevention Institute, September 2004, 251 pp.
This report provides an overview of the T*H*R*I*V*E project, which provides a framework for community members, coalitions, public health practitioners, and local decision-makers to identify factors associated with poor health outcomes in communities of color, engage relevant stakeholders, and take action to remedy the disparities. more info >

Race, ethnicity, and health: Snapshots III of America's families
Urban Institute, March 2004, 4 pp.
This brief uses data from the National Survey of America's Families to look at changes in health insurance coverage and health status by race and ethnicity. more info >

Addressing health disparities in community settings: An Analysis of best practices in community-based approches to ending disparities in health care
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, October 2003, 66 pp.
This report is based on a study of of community-based initiatives addressing disparities in breast cancer, cervical cancer and diabetes. The authors identify best practices, success factors and the potential contributions of these programs. more info >

Dynamics of race, culture and key indicators of health in the nation's 100 largest cities and their suburbs
SUNY Downstate Medical Center, February 2003, 44 pp.
Looks at changes in health and social measures from 1990 to 2000 in the 100 largest U.S. cities, including Minneapolis/St. Paul using U.S. Census Bureau and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. more info >

Minnesota's uninsured: findings from the 2001 Health Access Survey
Minnesota Department of Health, April 2002, 76 pp.
Presents findings of the 2001 Minnesota Health Access Survey. It focuses on uninsurance rates for various population groups. more info >

Disparities in health access: voices from Minnesota's Latino community
Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment through Research (HACER), January 2002, 36 pp.
Presents the results of a series of focus groups conducted with Latinos in Minnesota to discuss issues related to health care access. more info >

Accessing health insurance in Minnesota: report of focus group discussions with American Indian, Hmong and Somali community members
The Center for Cross-Cultural Health, December 2001, 28 pp.
A separate component of the MDH Health Insurance Access study, summarizes the results of 14 focus groups, which were conducted to gather information on people's experiences with health insurance, specifically public health insurance programs offered by the state. more info >

Mental health: culture, race, and ethnicity - a supplement to Mental Health : A Report of the Surgeon General.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, November 2000, 219 pp.
Reports on the nature and extent of disparities in mental health care for racial and ethnic minorities and on promising directions for the elimination of these disparities. more info >

Eliminate disparities in diabetes
Center for Disease Control, December 1969
Hispanics, African Americans and American Indians are several more times likely to have diabetes than Whites. This web page provides promising strategies for decreasing the overall rate of complications from diabetes. more info >

Web sites

Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?
Site accompanying a seven-part documentary series exploring racial and socioeconomic inequalities in health. more info >

Health disparities database
Searchable database of public health projects and interventions that are working to address health disparities. more info >