Barbara Lash – Page 3

GRAAHI blood drive brings awareness to the need for diversity in blood donations.

February 16, 2023January 5, 2023 by Barbara Lash

This January, National Blood Donor Month, GRAAHI follows in the footsteps of two heroes for life, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Dr. Charles Richard Drew, by joining with Versiti to hold a Blood Drive at Brown Hutcherson Ministries.

In the 1940s, Dr. Charles Drew laid the groundwork for today’s modern blood donation program through his innovative work in blood banking. The Red Cross blood bank program began in 1940, under the leadership of Drew who became the organization’s first medical director in 1941.

“He was a surgeon, educator, scientist and the first African-American blood specialist who helped shape the blood services industry. His legacy is far-reaching and we hope this drive helps educate the community about the need for a diverse blood supply,” said Vanessa Greene, CEO of the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute.

Why is an ethnically diverse blood supply important?

Because blood type is inherited, a compatible donor is often someone of a similar ethnic background. Diversity in donation is important for improved patient outcomes, as rare and uncommon blood types are often found in similar ethnic populations.

For example, sickle cell patients may require chronic blood transfusions to treat their disease, Since 44% of African Americans have Ro blood, providing matched Ro blood to sickle cell patients may provide a safer blood transfusion. Patients are less likely to experience complications from blood donated by someone with a similar ethnicity.

Become a Hero for Life and feel the good benefits of supporting your community. Join us January 21st from 9:30am to 1:30pm at Brown Hutcherson Ministries, 618 Jefferson Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503. GRAAHI seeks to create a welcoming and safe environment with a team focused on supporting your needs as you donate.

Every pint can save 3 lives!To sign up to donate, and learn more about Dr. Drew, go to graahi.com/giveblood.

Grand Rapids African American Health Institute Plans New Programs and Services After Receiving Federal Grant

January 6, 2023December 19, 2022 by Barbara Lash

Grand Rapids, Mich. (Dec. 19, 2022) – The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI)announced today it has received a $1 million grant through the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). GRAAHI was one of 30 grant recipients out of a total of 300 area applicants selected to receive funding by Kent County.

“We are pleased the Kent County administration and commission recognizes the important work GRAAHI provides in this community and has chosen to support our future efforts,” said Vanessa Greene, GRAAHI CEO. “As the leading health equity advocate for African Americans in greater Grand Rapids, we plan to use this federal funding to increase health-related resources for our residents and build on our efforts to make access to healthcare more equitable for all.”

Investing in new and existing mental and physical health programs for local communities was consistently described as “the first priority” in federal, state, and Kent County’s plans for spending ARPA funds. As part of its application process, GRAAHI presented plans to expand our services and impact in these areas. Specifically:

Expanding and enhancing mental health navigation services for Kent County’s BIPOC residents.
1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: At least 500 African American residents of Kent County whose mental health needs have developed or been exacerbated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will be connected annually to mental health services to regain their optimal level of physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning during the 4-year project period.

Expanding and enhancing the representation of BIPOC professionals in Kent County’s healthcare workforce.
1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: Increase representation of African American and Latinx individuals in the Kent County healthcare workforce by engaging an additional 200-300 students annually from 2023-2026.

Launching a maternal and infant health community navigation program to serve BIPOC individuals and families in Kent County at high risk of disparate pregnancy outcomes.
1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: Significantly reduce the high and disparate rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity from all causes in Kent County’s BIPOC communities.

Expanding and enhancing the Restoring Health program that serves senior citizens in Kent County whose health deteriorated as a result of the social isolation and medical experiences they endured during the COVID-19 epidemic.
1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: To serve 300 or more BIPOC adults 65 and older in Kent County each year who were adversely impacted by COVID-19 and/or whose health and wellbeing are now deteriorating or are at risk of deteriorating as a result of chronic conditions, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and/or social isolation.

Organizing and directing county-wide blood drives with a focus on sickle cell patients.
1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: Expand our outreach to over 100 repeat blood donors in Kent County annually, each donating four times per year, resulting in over 1200 lives saved.

“This grant is both an investment in our community’s future health and a validation of the past work by GRAAHI over the past 20 years,” said Paul Doyle, GRAAHI Board Chair. “Since being established in 2002, GRAAHI has worked to improve access to healthcare for marginalized populations, provided health services to uninsured residents and improved the overall wellness of Black and Brown populations in the greater Grand Rapids area. This grant validates our work and sets the foundation for an even greater impact in the coming years.”

Recently our CEO, Vanessa Greene, spoke with Shelley Irwin at WGVU. Listen here.

Meaning in Colors – Holiday Pop Up Shop

December 8, 2022December 7, 2022 by Barbara Lash

Join us December 17th as we co-host a FREE Christmas shopping opportunity for families in need. In a time of residual and onging challenges with a pandemic and rising costs, we understand that creating an abundant holiday can be additional stress to your mental health. That’s why we are supporting Meaning in Colors in creating this fun community-centered shopping event. The heads of families can shop for their family members from a stock-pile of donated goods! No kids are allowed at the event as this is meant to be a suprise for them! (Hello Santa!)

Currently we are signing up families to shop at: FAMILY SIGN UP

We’re also inviting community members and organizations to donate new items to our shop. And we’d love to have additional hands on that day with friendly volunteers. To make a donation or volunteer, email us at: MIC.info@MeaningInColors.org

We’re honored to co-sponsor this event with Meaning in Colors, a local nonprofit that strives to support education and housing for our community members. Collaborations like this mean we’re tackling the social determinants that impact the health of our black and brown communities.

To read more go to:

https://www.meaningincolors.org/gift-giving-pop-up-shop

To support more programs like this, donate as you are able at: graahi.com/growth

It’s Time To Champion Better Healthcare For African-American Seniors

November 24, 2022 by Barbara Lash

Written by Aileen Hope, for The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute

The U.S. healthcare system has had a long, rocky reputation, and across the different demographics older Americans have it the worst. The Conversation notes 11 million older adults are struggling to make ends meet, and skip much needed healthcare as a result.

The numbers are worse for older people of color, and the national disparity between Black and white economic insecurity is 17 percentage points. The inaccessibility of healthcare is thus shown to disproportionately impact people of color and other marginalized groups.

Let’s take a closer look at what this means for African-American seniors.

A look through the medical facts

Statistics show that African-Americans bear the brunt of these healthcare challenges. This was further exposed under the recent Covid-19 pandemic wherein the NCBA highlights 37% of Covid-19 hospitalizations in 2020 and 2021 were older Black adults. This is despite the population comprising only 9% of the 65-and-older demographic.

Furthermore, the death rate from Covid-19 for older Black adults was more than twice the rate of older white adults. This is a recurring pattern that has occurred throughout history — African-American adults are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, are 30% more likely to die from heart disease, and also 50% more likely to have a stroke.

The crucial factors

Experts have thus confirmed the pervasiveness of underlying health conditions within the African American community. In particular, gaps in wealth limit their access to the commercialized healthcare system.

Maryville University suggests that senior poverty has the potential to get even worse in the future. The median net worth of U.S. white families is nearly eight times greater than that of Black families. Social security benefits are based on the person’s earnings and are thus also lower on average for people of color, with the typical older Black family receiving annual benefits about 24% lower.

Acquiring a high-paying job and overcoming poverty is easier said than done, too. While we’ve come far since the 13th Amendment, African-American communities continue to lack access to the high-quality education that prepares young people for well-paying careers. They are also less likely to own a home and other assets, which reduces their ability to build wealth.

Seniors bear the biggest brunt of these effects, having survived their youth in a community that had even less access to wealth than it does today. This further puts people of color at disadvantages that can extend throughout their lifetime and pass onto future generations.

What can be done

As society progresses, means to help everyone build financial security for retirement have been developed. However, progression can go two ways, for the better or worse.

A critical program in the history of healthcare for people of color is the ACA or the Affordable Care Act. This allowed states to expand eligibility for Medicaid to everyone below 138 percent of the FPL, and from 2013 to 2019, the coverage gap between Black and white adults dropped by 4.6 percentage points.

In 2016, though, national progress stalled under the Trump administration and coverage eroded for all groups. This goes to show that systemic change is the key. This includes investing in public education, ensuring fair access to stable employment, and promoting financial literacy.

Government assistance programs such as SNAP benefits for food and housing subsidies, and the foundations of a secure retirement, Medicare and Social Security, must be improved as well. On the other hand, organizations or foundations can also do their part by making sure health programs consider African-American seniors’ specific needs and health conditions. Individuals can join the call and spread awareness in their own capacity, too.

As seen by ACA in 2016, the movement towards better healthcare for African-American seniors will naturally be inclusive of other demographics. It is thereby key that we collectively champion the rights of our seniors and African-American communities, in order to improve the lives of all.

COVID Vaccines for Small Children – What you need to know.

July 5, 2022 by Barbara Lash

After multiple delays, very young children are finally eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. In mid-June, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 5 years, as well as to Moderna’s vaccine for kids ages 6 months to 6 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) soon after recommended the vaccines, which are now available.

Understandably, parents of small children are hesitant to get their children vaccinated without knowing the risks and benefits.

Both vaccines are safe and effective

The Moderna vaccine primary series for children 6 months through 5 years old is administered in two 25-microgram doses given four to eight weeks apart. The shots were about 40–50% effective at preventing milder Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infections in young children. Moderna expects children in this age group to be offered a booster dose at some point in time.

The Pfizer vaccine primary series for children 6 months to 4 years old is administered in three 3-microgram doses. The first and second doses are separated by three to eight weeks and the second and third doses are separated by at least eight weeks. Three doses of the Pfizer vaccine were shown to be 80% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19.

Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines were shown to have similar side effects, which included pain at the injection site, irritability, drowsiness and fever.

Here are some common questions, with answers provided by the Kent County Health Department:

Is it a problem for my child to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines?
- No, children and teens may get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines at the same time. Because children may experience pain at the site where the shot is given, however, you should think about the number of shots you want your child to have at one time.
What kind of side effects should I worry about after my child gets the vaccine?
- Any vaccine can cause side effects. These are usually minor (for example, a sore arm or low-grade fever) and go away within a few days. The COVID-19 vaccine is no different. If your child has any of the following after getting their vaccine, however, you should call or visit a doctor:
  - Breathing fast or having trouble breathing
  - Chest Pain
  - A fast or irregular heartbeat
  - Fainting
  - A high fever with spasms or jerky movements (seizures)
  - A swollen tongue or throat
  - A rash or hives on their body
Should my child get the vaccine if they have allergies?
- Children with an allergy to food, latex or things in the environment (pollen, pets, bug bites, etc.) can get the COVID-19 vaccine. Serious allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine have been very rare, especially among children.
Will my child act any differently after getting the vaccine?
- Your child will likely complain that their arm hurts where the shot was given. They may also feel tired, not want to eat and be more irritable and cry more than usual. This shouldn’t last longer than a day.
Why should my child get the COVID-19 vaccine?
- Vaccinating children protects them when participating in childcare, school, and other activities. It’s hard to predict how a child’s body will respond if they are infected with COVID-19. Most kids will do well, but some get very sick and need to visit the hospital. Getting the vaccine is the best way to help prevent this.
What’s the difference between the two vaccines for kids under 5 years old?
- Both vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infection. The main difference is that the Pfizer vaccine is 3 doses and the Moderna vaccine is 2 doses. The most important choice is the one to have your child vaccinated.
Will the COVID-19 vaccine affect my child if they have diabetes or sickle cell disease?
- There is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine negatively impacts children with diabetes or sickle cell disease. In fact, it is especially important for children with these conditions to be vaccinated as they are more likely to get severe COVID-19 if they are infected.
My child is 4 years old. Should I wait until they are 5 to get vaccinated with the vaccine for 5-11 year olds?
- It takes some time to be considered fully protected after getting vaccinated (6 weeks for the Moderna vaccine and 13 weeks for the Pfizer vaccine). So that your child is fully protected as soon as possible, it is best not to wait and to get them vaccinated now.

You may still have more questions, so we encourage you to speak to your healthcare provider/pediatrician to determine what is the most appropriate action for your family.

Need to get your child vaccinated?
GRAAHI is offering multiple free, local vaccine clinics. To see the dates, locations and make an appointment, go to graahi.com/getvaccinated.

GRAAHI Welcomes New Board Members

June 28, 2022 by Barbara Lash

Grand Rapids African American Health Institute Names
Three New Members to its Executive Board

The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI), an organization devoted to achieving health parity for Black Americans in Kent County and throughout the state, today announced the appointment of three new members to its Executive Board.

Dr. Karen Kennedy, Misti Stanton and Mia Gutridge were elected by existing GRAAHI Board members at the organization’s June meeting.

“Adding these three talented and dedicated leaders to our Executive Board will bring new insight to our advocacy efforts and strengthen our impact to the residents we serve,” said Vanessa Greene, CEO of GRAAHI. “We are grateful to have them join our Board and help us address chronic health issues and inequities facing the Black community.”

Dr, Karen Kennedy currently serves as the Mercy Health Physician Partners (MHPP) Regional Medical Director and serves as Lead Physician in one of their direct-to-employer medical sites with Lacks Enterprises Primary Care. She is also proud to serve as the MHPP Diversity and Inclusion Champion alongside a team of dedicated leaders from across West Michigan. She has previously served as Vice President of the West Michigan Medical Society in Grand Rapids. Dr. Kennedy has been a board-certified Family Medicine physician since 2002, earning a degree from Upstate Medical School in Syracuse, NY and her MD from the UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Family Medicine Residency program in New Brunswick, NJ.

Misti Stanton is a fresh voice in diversity in Michigan. After more than 30 years of community and non-profit work, she currently serves as the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Mercantile Bank. She devotes her time and energy to cultivating an inclusive work environment in a rapidly-growing organization.

Misti is passionate about health equity, advocacy, and community empowerment. She has dedicated her career to improving the lives of others. She lives by the philosophy that community service impacts the health and well-being of our region. In her spare time, Misti volunteers for a variety of community organizations and advocates for youth literacy and community empowerment.

Mia Gutridge is currently the Human Resources Manager at Grand Rapids Housing Commission. She has a master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management, is a certified Professional Human Resources (PHR) provider, and a member of the Society for Human Resources-Certified Professionals (SHRM-CP).

Mia is active in the community and serves in many leadership roles. She is the chapter president of the Grand Rapids Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, leading the chapter’s efforts in education development, economic development, mental and physical health, international awareness and development, and political awareness and development. She also serves as the District President of the Women’s Home and Missionary Society of Western Michigan and as a member of the Evaluation and Impact Committee for the Women’s Resource Center. She is married to Dwight L. Gutridge, Pastor of St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church in Grand Rapids.

“The strength of any organization begins with its Board,” said GRAAHI Board Chair Paul Doyle. “We are fortunate to have three dedicated, knowledgeable and passionate people join our Board and devote their efforts to improving health parity for Black citizens in the area.”

A Focus on Mental Health

May 9, 2022 by Barbara Lash

Vanessa Greene, CEO of GRAAHI, kicks off video series for Mental Health Awareness month, by sharing her own journey to get support.

Improving mental health care for Black community members continues to be a priority for GRAAHI. We know that the stigma associated with seeking or utilizing mental health care services can be a barrier for some community members.

In light of Mental Health Awareness month, we will highlight community members and mental health clinicians sharing their perspective on navigating mental health challenges, the benefits of therapy, tips on connecting a therapist, finding a healthy balance with therapy and medication and more!

To kick off our series, check out our CEO, Vanessa Greene, highlighting GRAAHI’s focus on mental health and sharing a bit about her mental health care journey.

Visit www.graahi.com/mentalhealth to see the videos and learn about mental health resources.

Join us May 21 for Family Event in Garfield Park

May 2, 2022April 28, 2022 by Barbara Lash

GRAAHI joins other local organizations to host public Field day for Mental and Physical Wellness

Ready for some Family Fun? Join us on May 21st from 2pm to 5 pm at Garfield Park (near John Ball Zoo) for a day of activities, entertainment, prizes and fitness fun. We’ll be partnering up with local organizations to offer this FREE family event.

April 21 Declared GRAAHI Healthcare Advocacy Day, Mayor Bliss issues proclamation in support of Grand Rapids African American Health Institute

December 19, 2022April 21, 2022 by Barbara Lash

Grand Rapids, Mich. (April 20, 2022) – The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) is proud to announce that Mayor Rosalynn Bliss has declared Thursday, April 21, 2022 the first-ever “GRAAHI Healthcare Advocacy Day” in the city of Grand Rapids.

In the proclamation Mayor Bliss highlights GRAAHI’s advocacy work in the community and states, “the City of Grand Rapids is dedicated to eliminating healthcare inequity and supporting those organizations promoting healthcare equality.”

The proclamation comes as GRAAHI celebrates its 20^thanniversary of advocating for health parity for African Americans in our community. The day will culminate with a virtual Gala where GRAAHI will recognize four prominent leaders in our community for their efforts in bringing greater health equity for all residents. The Equity Champion Awards will be presented to:

• Christina Keller, President/CEO, Cascade Engineering

• Christina (Tina) Freese Decker, President/CEO, Spectrum Health Systems

• Teresa Weatherall Neal, CEO, Lead 616

• Dr. Wanda Lipscomb, MSU College of Human Medicine

“We greatly appreciate the Mayor’s proclamation in support of our organization,” said Vanessa Greene, CEO of GRAAHI. “The City’s commitment along with the support of the healthcare community, volunteers and donors, is essential to us achieving our goal of health parity for all in Grand Rapids.”

The GRAAHI 2021 Health Equity Report highlights the societal factors that block access to healthcare for many minority residents in Grand Rapids, leading to higher rates of illness and death from COVID-19, heart disease, lung cancer, HIV, obesity, depression, diabetes and infant mortality. If you would like learn more about how to get involved with our organization or would like to make a donation, simply go to the GRAAHI.org website.

5 Reasons We Need to Advocate for Better Black Maternal Health

April 14, 2022 by Barbara Lash

This year marks the fifth year anniversary of the Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) campaign. Founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, BMHW is a week of awareness, activism, and community building. While we’ve long known about the racial disparities in childbirth here in West Michigan through our research into health equity, we shine a light on 5 main reasons that we need to advocate for better black maternal healthcare.

Black Women Are 3-4x more Likely to Die During Childbirth

The United States has some of the worst rates of maternal and infant health outcomes among high-income nations, despite spending an estimated $111 billion per year on maternal, prenatal, and newborn care. Nationally, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes than white women.

Underlying Health Conditions make Pregnancy more Risky

Black women experience higher rates of many preventable diseases and chronic health conditions including higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Black women are also more likely to experience reproductive health disorders such as fibroids, and are three times more likely to have endometriosis.

Black infants in America are 2x as Likely to Die Before their 1st birthday as White Infants

With 5.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, the United States has a high infant mortality rate, and Black babies are in the gravest danger, with an infant mortality rate in 2018 of 10.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to a rate of 4.6 White babies per 1,000 live births.

Black Women Receive Less Help For Postpartum Depression

Black women not only face a higher chance of developing perinatal mood disorders than white women, but they are also less likely to receive treatment due to factors such as fear of stigma, involvement of child welfare services and financial barriers.

Black women are More Likely to Quit, be Fired, or Return to Work Early

Compared to non-Hispanic white women, Black women are more likely to quit, be fired, or return to work before they are healthy after giving birth due to inadequate leave policies. Furthermore, nearly three in ten charges of pregnancy discrimination were filed by Black women.

Black women need the resources, opportunities, and support that will enable them to protect their human right to health and life and to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. Maternal health disparities have many causes, but disparate social conditions, lack of access to quality prenatal care, and substandard maternal and reproductive health care are often key factors.

To learn more, read this brief from Black Mamas Matter Alliance, and GRAAHI’s Health Equity Index.

Sources:

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/magazine/magazine_article/america-is-failing-its-black-mothers/

https://blackmamasmatter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/0322_BMHStatisticalBrief_Final.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/maternal-mortality/index.html

A look through the medical facts

The crucial factors

What can be done

Join us for the 17th Annual 5k RHYTHM RUN & HEALTH FAIR

In the fight for health equity, every penny counts.