Approximately 40 representatives from across the early childhood and diversity fields participated at a special forum at the YWCA on April 17th to talk about Race, Gender, Culture and Ethnicity in Early Childhood Education. The presenters represented national, New York City and Westchester organizations involved in the field of early childhood development and included:

• Liz Fernandez, New York Regional Early Childhood Program Coordinator with The Miller Early Childhood Initiative of A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE ® Institute of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Ms. Fernandez gave background on the ADL program, which helps educate young children about respect and appreciating diversity.
• Dr. Nancy Gropper, Coordinator of Instructional Support at the Bank Street College of Education who spoke about the processes she employs in teaching early childhood educators to understand the cultural, racial and gender perspectives that they bring into the classroom and that of their young students. Dr. Gropper presented statistics on early childhood participants and race.
• Zoila Tazi, Principal of the Roosevelt School, Ossining Union Free School District spoke about the challenge of providing access for everyone in the public schools and in sustaining a school environment where it is safe to be different.
• Sheryl Seeley, Teacher at the Child Care Center at Purchase College, addressed being a teacher of color in the child care field.

The panel was moderated by Rachel Grob, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at Sarah Lawrence College (SLC) and Director of the Child Development Institute at SLC.

The audience was comprised of teachers and administrators of large and small child care providers, early childhood consultants, as well as members of the pre-K staff in local public school systems. There were also representatives from the Office for Family and Children’s Services and from racial justice organizations in Westchester County.

One of the consistent themes in the remarks was to note that women and minorities form the majority – 70% - of individuals entering the profession of early childhood education, the impact this has on the education of young boys and how it shapes relationships with parents. Administrators and educators also spoke about increased state assessment requirements for preschool programs that is driving curriculum away from the social and emotional development of young children.

For further information, contact the YWCA Development Office, (914) 949-6227 ext 147 or email: dcylich@ywcawhiteplains.com.

“Increasing Access to Health Care” March 2008

AJS held a forum at the Slater Center examining the disparities in health care among people of different races and ethnicities. Providers as well as practitioners joined in the discussion to talk about the problem, but also to offer some solutions for accessing care in Westchester County.

reprinted with permission from the Portchester-Rye NAACP April 2008 Newsletter

On Friday, March 14, 2008, a number of cooperating organizations put on a meeting to provide the public with health information.

County Health Commissioner, Dr. Joshua Lipsman quoted shocking statistics about health conditions in Westchester’s African-American Community. Among these: African-Americans have twice the incidence of diabetes as whites, have more than half the cases of HIV-AIDS in this county, have higher incidences of high blood pressure and prostate cancer, and have an average life-span of 68 years compared to white people’s 78.

Distinguished medical expert, Dr. Alcena blamed the shareholders of HMO’s, the pharmaceutical industry, and medical malpractice lawyers all for putting desire for profit above any genuine concern for public health and thus contributing to the fact that American health care costs twice as much as, but isn’t as good as, that of other advanced countries. He didn’t pull any punches saying “racism and cultural insensitivity are at the core of the health disparities in America.” The predominately white medical establishment hesitates to prescribe pain medication to blacks suffering sever pain fearing abuse and addiction. So, black patients are more apt to simply get Tylenol. Actually, most of the people who abuse prescription pain-killers are white.

Dr. Jacqueline Dunbar said that Doctors provide the same treatments to persons of different race and sex in the same way; but people don’t react to treatment the same way. Also, most trials of new drugs are done on white males. That means that we don’t know enough about how other people will be affected by the drugs over time.

Dr. Cheryl Archbald made us aware of County services available to us. Westchester’s “Teen Aware” program is available to come and speak to youth groups. Peers discuss sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancies, and other health issues. You can contact them through: www.westhcestergov.com/health. The County also provides free immunization clinics for students, WIC Clinics, and anonymous treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.

Increasing Access to Health Care for Westchester Residents

On March 14^th, doctors, representatives from health care providers and the County Health Department will participate in a forum to discuss how to increase access to health care here in Westchester County. The focus of the program is not simply on affordability, but on addressing health care disparities due to race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

Across the United States, the disparity in health care among racial and ethnic minorities, especially for those in medically under served communities, is staggering. In Westchester, African-Americans have higher rates of cancer, AIDS, asthma and circulatory diseases. On average, Blacks have a ten year shorter life span than Whites; infant mortality for Blacks is almost twice the county average.

Access to health care is not simply a matter of affordability as reported in surveys collated by the Westchester County Blue Ribbon Task Force for the Elimination of Health Disparities. Residents found it challenging to find doctors that connected with them on a personal level and made them feel comfortable and “at home.” They also found the bureaucracy at larger agencies daunting.

The Blue Ribbon Task Force was initiated in 2005 by County Executive Andrew Spano to examine the depth of the problem in Westchester and to provide a starting point upon which to develop solutions. While the challenge before the Task Force was to examine health disparities of African-Americans in Westchester, Hispanics and other minorities face similar issues.

Through its program the Alliance for Just Solutions, the YWCA of White Plains has joined with the Westchester County Department of Health to present the March 14^th forum on Increasing Access to Health Care, looking at how residents can access affordable healthcare, find the right doctor, get help with language barriers and learn about their rights as patients.

Presenters include Dr. Joshua Lipsman, MD, JD, MPH, Health Commissioner; Dr. Valiere Alcena; Dr. Jacqueline Dunbar; and Jose Alverado, legislator and White Plains Hospital Hispanic Community Liaison. In addition, representatives from Hudson Health Plan; Greenburgh Health Center; Affinity Health Plan; and Planned Parenthood will be on hand to talk specifically about there services and to provide resource materials.

Corporate sponsorship from Citigroup and Entergy has provided critical underwriting support to ensure that this event is free and open to the public. The forum will take place from 9am – 12noon at the Slater Center, 2 Fisher Court in White Plains.

For further information, contact the YWCA Events Office, (914) 949-6227 ext 147 or email: events@ywcawhiteplains.com.

The Alliance for Just Solutions is a project of the YWCA and United Way of Westchester and Putnam that is dedicated to fostering networks and collaborations among organizations working on social justice issues in Westchester.

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