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.
Grand Rapids African American Health Institute
As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, the future health of Michigan residents will rely in large part on the percentage who are vaccinated against the virus. Unfortunately, that number remains low among African Americans. In Michigan, only 44 percent of the African American population has received a COVID-19 vaccine dose, among the lowest rates in the country.
The answer to why is multi-factored, but a large part is general distrust of the health care system by many African Americans — distrust formed over time due to a long history of inequities and mistreatment. We must become more intentional about making changes, both immediately and over the long-term, so African Americans have better experiences in their health care journey and their level of trust in the system grows.
Although COVID vaccination may be the topic of the day, this distrust impacts African American health care in many ways beyond the virus. For example, African Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial/ethnic group in the United States for most cancers. Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, asthma, obesity, and Alzheimer’s also appear at higher rates in people of color when compared to whites.
Longstanding systemic inequities and structural racism are disproportionately harming communities of color. Studies show that physicians spend less time with African American patients, and when they are seen, concerns are more often dismissed or ignored. Communities of color are more likely to live in poverty and in areas with high pollution, substandard education and housing, and fewer health care facilities.
Another area where disparities stand out for African Americans is maternal health care. In Michigan, African American women die of pregnancy-related causes in 41 out of 100,000 live births, compared to 15 in 100,000 live births of white mothers. African American babies also die at a rate 3 times higher than white babies. In Kent County, African American infants are 2.5 times more likely to die before age 1 than white infants, and 2.2 times more likely to have low birth weights. At the root of this issue, studies show that pregnant African American women are often ignored by their doctors when discussing possible complications of their pregnancy.
Unfortunately, the distrust in the health care system caused by these and other inequities will lead to further health disparities in the future, as African Americans will be less protected against COVID.
African Americans currently make up 18 percent of all COVID deaths in Michigan, a disproportionate number compared to population, and many more will suffer from long-term impacts, especially since COVID is more dangerous to people who have co-morbidities such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity, which appear in African Americans in higher rates due to past inequities.
The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute’s (GRAAHI) “United Against Covid” campaign is working directly with African American communities to promote vaccinations and other preventative health care measures. We have clinics set up throughout Kent County in Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Wyoming, and with vacations and travel increasing, it is all the more important for people to get vaccinated. Many people believe that those who want to get vaccinated have already done so, but we do not accept this to be true and will continue to provide every opportunity possible for people to get vaccinated. You can learn more about GRAAHI’s vaccination clinics at graahi.com/getvaccinated.
But we can only do so much as one organization. Our elected leaders must prioritize policies that recognize the impact of social determinants on diverse populations and seek to remedy key factors that help lead to inequities, solving the problem at its source. Advocacy, community education and research must all be key components of these efforts. Finally, the lack of diversity in the medical field is another issue that can be addressed. Only 6.2 percent of nurses and 5 percent of doctors identify as African American. The role of African American health care providers is critical, as more diversity on health care teams can play a key role in lowering the level of distrust. At GRAAHI, we work with Michigan universities to improve the pipeline of African American medical professionals in our state, and we need elected officials to make this a priority as well.
Although we have made progress, we are dealing with a system that has been broken for centuries. It is time to recognize the magnitude of this problem and come together at the community and governmental levels to break this vicious cycle. Through our combined efforts, the future can be much brighter. Vanessa Greene is CEO of the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute, an organization devoted to achieving healthcare parity for African Americans and ensuring all people have optimal health care and benefit from health systems without race being an impediment.
In the Media:
and
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 20th anniversary 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 Call for Healing and Wellness
Today, as the video footage of the killing of Patrick Lyoya is released, collectively we will most likely feel shock, sadness and outrage. An act like this inflicts trauma on our entire community.
As proponents of health and wellness, GRAAHI invites you to practice ultimate self care during these times. This includes the following:
It also means making choices about what actions you need to take to support yourself and your family. Some may choose to watch the video and some may NOT choose to watch the video; both are your ultimate choice. What we ask is for you to truly protect your mental health and if you choose NOT to watch the video, It’s okay as this is your personal choice. If you do choose to watch, please do the following:
This is not just a Black problem, it’s a community problem and will affect everyone in different ways. That being said, we encourage employers to acknowledge the potential impact of this event on your employees and what you can do to honor and protect them. Please allow them grace and flexibility as they navigate this traumatic event that happened in our city.
Violence, racism and systemic bias are not new issues, they are ongoing crises and at times like this, they become flashpoints for change. We encourage you to take this opportunity to practice self-care, self-empowerment and to stand with us as we fight for a better and safer community.
Join our team as a Community Health Navigator.
Job Title: Independent Contractor – Community Health Navigator (Full-Time, Onsite and Remote- Hybrid)
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Description:
The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) is a non-profit organization
dedicated to achieving healthcare equity in the African American Community through advocacy,
education, and research. We have a rich history of contributing to social justice and racial equity
policy, programming, and interventions. We seek to employ talented and success-oriented
individuals, committed to supporting and advocating for the well-being of vulnerable populations.
We believe in a synergistic, collaborative work environment in which every staff member feels a
sense of belonging and valued.
We are looking for a dynamic and experienced leader with a proven history of planning,
implementing, and executing programs and managing budgets. This independent contractor
position reports directly to the Community Navigator Lead.
Roles and Responsibilities
● Actively develops and engages with key stakeholders.
● Builds collaborative relationships with community partners.
● Knowledgeable in organization’s history, programs, mission, and vision.
● Organize COVID and health related clinics, including marketing, canvassing and various
forms of social media.
● Work closely with community partners.
● Assist in surveys, focus groups, data collection, and monthly reports.
● Assist with other duties as assigned.
Requirements
● Commitment to GRAAHI’s mission and values.
● Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or work experience equivalent to 2 years plus.
● Proven history of working with a wide range of cultural backgrounds.
● Analytical thinking and ability to analyze data.
● Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
● Proficient and flexible in MS Office Word/Excel and Google documents.
● Detailed oriented, excellent organizational skills, ability to prioritize tasks, ability
to meet deadlines and excellent time management skills.
● Initiative-taker and independent.
Why GRAAHI?
● You will get the chance to form relationships with motivated staff members, a
phenomenal community, and stakeholders who genuinely care about the organization
and improving the health of the community.
● You will see the impact of the work that you do and meet the people that are
transformed by the programs of the organization.
● This is the perfect opportunity to support the community while addressing
healthcare issues.
To Apply: Please send your resume, cover letter, two letters of recommendations, and three
references to info@graahi.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position
is filled.
To download the job description as a PDF, click here.
GRAAHI provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for
employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race,
color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status,
sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by
federal, state, or local laws.
Quick Links
Community Programs
Connect with Us
© 2002-2024 | Grand Rapids African American Health Institute.