Why Health Equity Matters

Cuando una región es equitativa, significa que todos los residentes -independientemente de su barrio, género, raza, etnia, ingresos, edad o capacidad- pueden acceder a los recursos de la zona y apreciarlos. Las regiones equitativas son prósperas y experimentan un crecimiento más fuerte y sostenido.

Unfortunately, in our community and many others across the country, we see sharp disparities in health outcomes when we disaggregate data by geography and race. Histories of exclusion have limited opportunities for people of color to access a quality education, attain economic self-sufficiency, build generational wealth, participate fully in society, and live in good health. When structural barriers limit the ability of a group of people to participate fully and thrive, the entire community misses out on their gifts, talents, and contributions.

This hurts all of us. The good news is, we can change it.

tres imágenes de miembros de la comunidad y del personal de diferentes identidades raciales en diversos actos de la Fundación

Los datos del condado de Pinellas muestran:

En el condado de Pinellas, sólo el 69% de los niños pasan al jardín de infancia.

Estos resultados son desproporcionados por raza (negra) y geografía.

20% of Black St Pete residents live in poverty.

This is compared to 9% of white City residents.

La mortalidad infantil es 2,6 veces mayor para los bebés negros.

Esto se compara con las tasas de mortalidad infantil de los bebés blancos.

La curación de nuestra historia

From an absence of affordable housing and fresh food to inadequate medical care, many Pinellas County residents lack access to the basic building blocks of a healthy life. In a modern and well-resourced society, these barriers to health should not exist. For many who do not experience these challenges firsthand, it’s easier to imagine people’s circumstances are tied to personal choices. The reality is that inequity is written into the very fabric of our society, which was designed historically to limit the opportunities and potential for people of color in our country.

We have all inherited our nation’s history of systemic exclusion. The good news is that, since people created our systems, people have the power to change them, one step at a time.

El camino a seguir

Just as society once worked to build barriers, we can work to remove them. Your contributions may include lived experience, time, energy, or a voice to vote for better policies. What is good for one part of the community is proven to help the community as a whole. Healthy people – leading fuller, longer lives – build stronger, more stable communities.

The Foundation believes that by working toward long-term systems change that provides equity of opportunity for all residents, there will be a decrease in morbidity and mortality rates (how often and badly someone is sick, and at what age we die). When race is no longer a prominent variable in predicting health outcomes, we will have achieved racial health equity.

Es un largo camino, pero se avanza día a día gracias al trabajo de los socios financiados, los líderes de los sistemas y personas como usted.

 

Únase a nuestra comunidad de agentes de cambio

Es a través de nuestras acciones e ideas colectivas que lograremos la equidad racial y de salud en el Condado de Pinellas. Siga impulsando el movimiento. Conéctese con la Fundación y suscríbase a nuestros correos electrónicos para mantenerse actualizado sobre oportunidades, desarrollos y eventos en torno a la equidad.

Gracias por su interés.