The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released their newest County
Health Rankings last week. Out of Kentucky’s 120 counties, Jefferson County is
ranked 28th overall for health outcomes, and 57th for
health factors. Health outcomes include premature death, low birth weight
babies, and self-reported quality of life and health. Health factors include
smoking, obesity, food environment index, and physical inactivity. There is
additional county-level data for several other factors related to health
including clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment
that were not included in the overall ranking.
Using data to understand health challenges helps to focus
resources and efforts to improve health. This summer, the third iteration of
the Health Equity Report will be released which will show sub-county
differences in health outcomes and health related factors. This year’s report will also take an in-depth look at the
relationship between several newly included health outcomes and many social
determinants of health, including food systems and financial security. Stay
tuned!
Redlining Community Dialogue April 26
In February 2017, Louisville
Forward released historical maps identifying
which areas in the city were redlined by bankers through the 1930s and 1940s.
For those living in areas redlined, or areas identified as having too high of
an African-American and/or low-income population, were not able to obtain loans
for home ownership during a time when home ownership was building a substantial
middle-class. In releasing these maps, we have direct access to critical,
historical documents shown alongside current maps of race, property values,
poverty, vacant properties and more. The Center for Health Equity has partnered
with the division of Redevelopment Strategies in Louisville Forward, Greater
Louisville Project, Urban League, Metropolitan Housing Coalition, Human Relations
Commission, and YouthBuild to host one of three Community Dialogues.
On April 26,
CHE and YouthBuild Louisville will cohost a Community Dialogue to discuss the
recently-released Louisville redlining maps. At this program, we seek to build
community capacity by outlining the impact of significant systemic barriers,
such as redlining, on health outcomes and its particular impact on young
people. Join us at YouthBuild (800 S.
Preston St.) on 4/26 from 5:30-7p
UN Women, Changing World of Work
Women at Work
In March we recognize Women’s History
Month. The first International Women’s Day (observed on March 8) was held in
1911 and has evolved over time. The United Nations describes it as a day
that “first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the
twentieth century in North America and across Europe…it is a time to reflect on
progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and
determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the
history of their countries and communities.”
One focus during this Women’s
History Month is the work of women across the world and the shifting realities
of that work. Take a moment today to learn about the work women are
responsible for around the world, and what changes can be made to advance
equity. You can learn more here, including about issues such as:
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Unpaid Work: From cooking and cleaning, to fetching water and
firewood or taking care of children and the elderly, women bear a
disproportionate burden of unpaid work across the world. Unpaid work supports
the economy and often fills in for lack of public expenditures on social
services and infrastructure.
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Parental Leave: Parental leave policies that enable both partners to
share childcare responsibilities play a critical role in ensuring the personal
and economic well being of women, families and societies.
We advocate for policies like this because we know policies and societal structures that women
navigate have significant impacts on their health. The degree to which workers
feel a sense of control over their work can impact mental health and well being.
And, of course, gender-based discrimination in the work-place can have
long-lasting negative health impacts on women of any race. Read more about women’s safety and health issues at work.
We celebrate the work that women do to make our community a better place!
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