NEWS RELEASE
June 12, 1998

Color Me Healthy Targets Minority Health

Michigan Department of Community Health Director James K. Haveman, Jr. today announced that improving the health of Michigan's populations of color is the focus of Color Me Healthy during Minority Health Month in June.

The goal of the Color Me Healthy campaign is to promote the adoption of healthy lifestyles and reduction of high risk behaviors among the state's five minority populations. Michigan's populations of color are African Americans, American Indians, Hispanics, Arab American/Chaldeans, and Asian and Pacific Islanders.

"It is important for people of color to know that they are at higher risk for certain diseases and conditions and to learn what they can do to modify these risks," Haveman said. "We need to provide people with the information they need to make sound health decisions."

Many diseases and premature deaths are preventable through health awareness, health education and changes in lifestyle and behavior, Haveman said. He pointed to stopping smoking, reducing fat and cholesterol in diet, and exercising regularly as some healthy behavior choices.

Michigan has already made some gains in reducing minority health risks:

• The rate of heart disease death among African American Men decreased 15.4 % compared to 1985.
  
• American Indian residents experienced a decrease in age-adjusted death rates from liver disease from 30.9 per 1,000 in 1980-92 to 22.1 per 100,000 in 1995-96.

• In 1996, only 3.3 percent of Asian and Pacific Islander mothers reported smoking while pregnant. By contrast, 17.3 percent of Michigan mothers reported smoking while pregnant.
  
• Of all live births to Arab-American and Chaldean mothers, 79.3 percent had adequate prenatal care. By contrast, 75.5 of Michigan-resident mothers had adequate prenatal care.
• The infant mortality rate in the Hispanic population decreased from 11.4 per 1,000 live births in 1991 to 7.7 in 1996.

For 1997-98 the MDCH Office of Minority Health awarded approximately $500,000 in grants to 13 local health departments. They, in turn, contracted with community-based organizations to reduce health risks in population of color. The health departments are Berrien, Calhoun, City of Detroit, Delta-Menominee, Genesee, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Oakland, Saginaw, Washtenaw and Wayne.

MDCH also awarded 15 mini grants to local programs committed to increasing health awareness among minority groups. These mini grants totaled $15,000.

The mini grants went to Washtenaw Community Health Outreach Workers Coalition, Ypsilanti; Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation, Detroit; Keewenaw Bay Indian Community, Baraga; Listening Ear, Inc., Lansing; Lighthouse Emergency Services, Pontiac; Minority Coalition, Cassopolis; St. Johns Home Health Care, Clinton Township; Nigerian Foundation of Michigan, Detroit; Detroit Urban League, Detroit; Women's Justice Center, Detroit; Association of Chinese Americans, Detroit; Community Tree House, Detroit; Three Rivers Chapter of NAACP, Three Rivers; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Kalamazoo; Michigan State University Extension-Lenawee County, Adrian.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT: Geralyn Lasher
June 12, 1998 (517) 241-2112