The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), Avance Center for the Advancement of Immigrant/Refugee Health, and the Regional Primary Care Coalition, held a conference on October 5 at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health to discuss the disproportionate burden of health problems that affect Latinos living in the metropolitan Washington area and efforts underway to address these health disparities.
 
This year’s event focused on migration trends throughout the region and how migration impacts Latino youth and family health. The event brought together more than 300 researchers, local leaders, practitioners, and advocates to share emerging research, best practices, and community perspectives that shape the agenda for promoting Latino health and eliminating disparities.

COG Executive Director Chuck Bean provided welcome remarks and encouraged attendees to use COG’s Regional Latino Health and Community Resources Directory, which was released at the event. The directory includes agencies offering health care services, programs for children and the elderly, as well as those that specialize in searching for housing and employment.

WAMU Senior Reporter Armando Trull delivered the keynote address about the D.C. region’s growing Latino immigrant community and the national surge of unaccompanied youth entering the United States.
 
D.C., Maryland, and Virginia government officials, including: Fairfax County Supervisor and COG Board Member Penny Gross; COG Human Services and Public Safety Policy Committee member and Director of Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Uma Ahluwalia; Office of the Deputy Mayor Senior Policy Analyst Christian Barrera; and Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Senior Manager Sonia Mora, discussed policy solutions for health disparities and other serious concerns in Latino communities.
 
The event also included sessions on behavioral health services for Latinos and immigrants who face trauma and family separation; Latino access to quality and higher education and its impact on health outcomes; affordable and safe housing; a project to reduce the risk of obesity/diabetes in Latino populations; and an intervention to address substance abuse, sexual risk, and violence among Latino youth.

More: View full event description and agenda.

This story was adapted from the joint media advisory released by GW, RPCC, and COG. 

Video by: Angelo Bavaro, Maryland Newsline - Capital News Service's Daily Newscast