Background

Diabetes is a major public health problem affecting more than 30 million Americans. Type 2 diabetes impacts Asian American (AA), Native Hawaiian (NH), and Pacific Islander (PI) populations differently. Currently, aggregated race data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that AAs have the second lowest prevalence of diabetes despite South Asian, Hmong, and Filipino populations having some of the highest incidence and prevalence rates compared to all other racial and ethnic groups. Further, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations have the highest rates of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes compared to all other racial and ethnic groups. Aggregated data oversimplifies the experiences of diabetes among AA and NH/PI populations and hides these distinctions between subgroups. 

Diabetes screening, treatment, and management pose distinct challenges for AA and NH/PI populations due to cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic factors. This variation in prevalence among and between AA and NH/PI subgroups emphasizes the need for culturally-responsive interventions.

The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) chronic disease management programs, expertise, and national network in the AA and NH/PI community health center space, will feature research, community intervention strategies, and historical context for diabetes and other co-morbidities among AAs and NH/PIs. 

This self-paced learning series will feature modules that outline various social, institutional, and environmental drivers of health for diabetes and comorbidities management. Modules will include case studies which promote resources, strategies, and interventions to support health center performance improvement and transformation efforts.

Learning Modules

Instructions

Module 1

Title: Whole Food Model for Holistic Community Wellness                             

Speaker: Janssen Hang, Hmong American Farmers Association

Module 2

Title: Community Intervention Strategies Among Pacific Islander Populations in Utah

Speaker: Ivoni Nash, National Tongan American Society

Module 3

Title: Culturally Grounded Interventions to Improve Mental and Physical Health

Speaker: Dr. Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula, University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine

Module 4

Title: Bridging Community and Clinic to Promote Diabetes Equity in South Asian Communities                                 

Speaker: Dr. Nadia Islam, New York University Langone Institute for Excellence in Health Equity

About AAPCHO

The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) was formed in 1987 by health centers primarily serving medically underserved Asian Americans (AAs), Native Hawaiians (NHs), and Pacific Islanders (PIs). The goal of these organizations was to create a national voice to advocate for the unique and diverse health needs of AAs, NHs, PIs. communities and the community health providers that served those needs. Since that time, AAPCHO has supported programs and provided training and technical assistance that improve the provision of health care services that are community driven, financially affordable, linguistically accessible, and culturally appropriate

For specific questions about the series, please contact Cara Skillingstead or Ivy Yuson.

For all general inquiries, please contact training@aapcho.org.

Disclaimer

This activity is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration HRSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHS as part of an award totaling $550,000 with 0 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.