The African American Health Initiative (AAHI) is a focused community health education campaign aimed at reducing and eliminating health risks among the African American population in the Inland Empire, and improving the overall quality of their health.

    This initiative is a collaborative partnership of the San Bernardino County Medical Society, the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, Inland Wellness Information Network (a not for profit 501(c)(3) corporation), and over thirty (30) community based organizations and individuals in San Bernardino County, California. The group has identified a number of persistently alarming health problems of the County’s African American population, and thus have all come together to formalize and implement strategies that would halt and reverse the trends.

    According to recent reports from the Pew Health Professions Commission, the health care system in the United States today is undergoing rapid and dramatic transformation. The system is moving towards a humanely balanced system as opposed to a technology-driven system; a system that is population focused as opposed to individual patient focused; and an approach that is community based rather than institutionally driven.

    The Commission reports that in the coming years, American health care will need to be more aware of and responsive to the needs of patient populations; more innovative and diverse in the ways in which health services are provided; more concerned with prevention, education, and the management of care; and more oriented toward improving the overall health and wellness of the community.

    California is noted for its diversity in culture and health needs but unfortunately, California has not always provided equal access to health care, technology and education. In California, the need to provide clinically and culturally competent, community-based health services will be especially critical for the future.

    The lack of equal access for minorities and its associated problems of poverty, disenfranchisement from social institutions and lack of access to health care encountered by many individuals of color are reflected in higher incidences of co-morbidity among minorities. Co-morbidity complicates the life of the patient and therefore can compromise the individual’s ability to make healthy decisions, to respond to prevention messages, to access health services, and to comply with treatment regimens. As a result, rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, homicide, unintentional injuries, and infant mortality are higher for minorities, while immunization rates are lower. Additionally, Blacks are four to eight times more likely to have TB than Whites.

    The Federal Office of Minority Health has determined that increased economic inequality is the driving force behind the rising health disparities among Americans. In one study of minorities, 63 percent of respondents reported that medical costs and transportation were the greatest barriers to health care. Minorities are more likely to be low income than are Whites. Poverty is a particular issue for women of color: the majority of minority households are headed by working women having incomes below the Federal poverty level, according to research from the National Institutes of Health.

    National and local data show the incidence of HIV/AIDS among African Americans as four times that of Whites, and over three times that of Hispanics. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is 50% higher among African Americans than among Whites, and 200% higher than among Hispanics. Hypertension statistics among African Americans also reveal incidence levels almost double that of Whites and Hispanics. Moreover, African Americans have a higher overall infant mortality rate in San Bernardino county, primarily associated with an increased prevalence of lower birth weights.

    Our African American Health Initiative proposes to utilize funds to plan for the development and implementation of activities and services through community collaborations that will lead to the improvement of the health status of African Americans countywide. It also proposes to utilize funds for: