The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services is spotlighting health equity with a special focus on the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) community. In a move to assess and address the community's health needs, a presentation followed by a roundtable discussion is set for September 12, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Billie Jean King Library. According to an announcement on the city's official website, this initiative, spearheaded by the Health Department's Racial and Health Equity team, aims to shed light on the strengths and service gaps in healthcare for the local NHPI population.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson highlighted the city's commitment to these efforts, conveying in a statement published by longbeach.gov, "We remain committed to racial and health equity and look forward to learning about the specific needs of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in Long Beach." Hosting the event, the city is presenting an environment that is meant to foster stronger relationships and explore potential partnerships with the NHPI community to improve their health outcomes.
With more than 2,471 residents identifying as NHPIs, as per the 2020 Census, the significance of this population in Long Beach is clear. The community health survey conducted earlier this year is a cornerstone of the Health Department's approach to inclusivity in health assessment. "We are committed to ensuring that all our communities in Long Beach have what they need to be healthy and thrive," Alison King, the Director of Health and Human Services, was quoted by the city's announcement, emanating a strong message geared towards uplifting every community segment.
Follow-up on the health needs assessment will not end with the September roundtable. The Health Department will be collaborating closely, alongside the NHPI Community Advisory Committee, with a focus on devising strategies to improve the NHPI health indicators. The community's involvement, actively invited to partake in the development of these interventions, will provide continuous feedback, celebrated upon regular updates to the public. Attendance to the impactful roundtable event is encouraged with a suggestion for the public to RSVP in advance, detailed in the instructions found in the city's press release.
Underscoring a broader commitment to health equity, Long Beach has previously targeted other community health assessments, such as the Mi Vida Cuenta Latinx initiative and the Filipino Community Assessment. Future projects aiming to encompass the Cambodian, LGBTQIA2S+, and Black communities also stand testament to the city's continued efforts to close the health equity gap. For individuals looking for more information on these initiatives and the city's broader scope of services, resources are available on the official city and Health Department web pages.
