Dear Partners, Supporters, and Friends, What a week! After a tumultuous and anxious national election, many of us in the health sector feel the weight of the unknown. We know that the communities we serve—those most at risk of inequities and disparities—may face even more significant barriers to their health and well-being. At Health Outreach Partners, we adhere to our values. We remain unwavering in our mission to promote health equity and secure access to primary care for communities that have long been excluded from essential healthcare. Everyone deserves high-quality care, and historically marginalized communities must have a voice in shaping their health outcomes. We will continue to include the communities we work with in our program planning and design, for "Nothing About Us Without Us" is at the core of our work. Our commitment to outreach and advocacy also extends to helping communities navigate and access Medicaid and other vital health coverage. By offering support in enrolling in these programs, we aim to break down barriers to care and connect individuals and families to essential services, including addressing their social needs. We know that access to Medicaid and comprehensive health coverage is a lifeline for those in need, and we will continue to prioritize this outreach to ensure no one falls through the cracks. We will also continue championing reproductive freedom and choice, advocating for every individual’s right to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures. No matter what the future holds, we will do everything in our power to fulfill our vision that every person deserves access to the full range of sexual and reproductive health services they need to make informed decisions about their bodies, lives, and reproductive futures. Sexual health, after all, is an essential component of primary healthcare. We will not support policies that harm people. Instead, we will stand firm and continue to advocate for and fight for a more just health system in which everyone is valued and has equal access to quality health care. Guided by these principles, we strive to build a healthier, more just society where no one is left behind. With gratitude and determination,           Cynthia A Selmi Executive Director    

Hello friends, partners, and supporters, Traditionally, Health Outreach Partners ends each year looking back and taking stock of our work. The last three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic the majority of our work was virtual. While we are proud that we were able to pivot and find innovative ways to support our communities, we are thrilled 2023 started off with in-person activities. After well-deserved time off to celebrate the holidays with friends and family, HOP started the year piloting our hybrid work model. As a team, we agreed on the benefits of working together in person and after several iterations started a 2-day in the office work week. I’m so happy, as we end the year, that we are still coming together 2-3 times per week to collaborate, share ideas, problem solve as well as enjoy one another with a few laughs and lots of great food. (more…)

Coming from a mixed background–half Chinese and half Mexican–my upbringing was a fascinating blend of cultures. Living in a multicultural family meant that our dinners were a delightful fusion of Chinese and Mexican flavors, representing our diverse heritage. Language was a significant aspect for my parents; they emphasized my ability to speak Spanish and Cantonese. Although my fluency in Cantonese waned over time, i was fortunate to maintain my proficiency in Spanish, especially due to my intersections with many Latinx communities. Growing up in a predominately white community posed challenges, exposing me microaggressions and racism from an early age and continuing into my early adulthood. These hurtful comments often targeted my father, making it difficult to endure. However, I preserved and stood up for myself when necessary. These experiences have shaped me into a resilient individual and a dedicated advocate for my community. (more…)

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There is no standardized way to have the “the birds and the bees” conversation. It is usually up to parents to decide how and when to have that talk with their children. However, I am someone who missed out entirely on that experience. It’s not that my parents viewed it as taboo, they just weren’t comfortable and had expected that I would learn about sex ed through school. My first memory of sexual health education was in the 5th grade. The teachers had separated the boys into one room and the girls into another. There was an old, small TV at the center of each classroom where a 30-minute video played discussing puberty for each gender. I remembered it being awkward and somewhat hard to follow because this was my first exposure to this information. The video discussed expectations for a menstrual cycle and anatomical changes, but that was all. My classmates were giggling and whispering, which shouldn’t be surprising for 10-11 year old’s. Though, clearly, there was little engagement with the material and likely little retention either. (more…)

I was probably only 12 years old the first time the HPV vaccine was brought up by my doctor during my annual check-up. At that time, my parents quickly dismissed the recommendation that all girls be vaccinated around my age. Over the years, my parents' response to the suggestion went from dismissal to claims that they would “do more research” or “get a second opinion”. My parents never did that. Although, in general, they supported vaccination, they ran on misinformation spread within their religious community and fears of confrontation with sexual health. My experience, I recently learned, was not unique. (more…)

When I arrived in Amsterdam this summer for the second half of a study abroad program, I quickly realized I’d have to find an alternative to cycling, the Dutch’s preferred mode of transportation. Even though my accommodation provided free bikes, since I stand towering at 4’10” (and the Dutch are known for being tall), the only bikes available were unfortunately too tall for me. My humorous, vertically-challenged study abroad situation came at the end of my internship with Health Outreach Partners, where my main project consisted of researching the role of transportation access and healthcare equity. (more…)

“It is best to not share your feelings with others. They will take advantage.” “You cannot cry. No one will feel bad for you.” “Stick it out and keep pushing.” “There is no room for failure.” These words were imprinted in my mind as mantras. They were constant reminders of my role as the eldest daughter of immigrant parents. From a young age, it was instilled in me that I had to be something. A living testament to my parent’s hardships in coming to the United States. My mother left her family at 14 to escape the horrors of the Vietnam War. My father, a victim of “in the wrong place at the wrong time”, found himself followed by authorities during the “Dirty War” in Mexico. My mental health struggles did not measure up to what my parents experienced. If I were to open up to my family about how I was struggling, I would feel guilty. I grew up in an idyllic coastal California town. I never had to worry about food, shelter, clothes or my safety. My parents did not have that. How could my mental conflicts measure up to what my parents experienced? (more…)

June 24, 2022 will forever be seared into my memory as the day Roe v. Wade (Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization) was overturned. Since then, there has been a vacant feeling in my chest from where by heart was yanked out of its place. Just typing the date brings tears streaming down my face. My tears, always present under the surface, are triggered with each and every news headline announcing the latest attempt to either further limit abortion access or the swift action many states have taken this last year to codify abortion rights. What a year it has been! (more…)

Introduction Gestational Diabetes, with approximately 200,000 cases per year in the United States, is a prevalent disease that demands immediate medical attention, particularly in severe cases, as it can pose significant risks to one's health and sometimes even be life-threatening. The condition may persist for several months or years, underscoring the importance of proper management and ongoing care. (more…)

“Health equity is achieved when everyone can attain their full potential for health and well-being” - CDC April is National Minority Health Month, a time to reflect and build awareness around the inequities that continue to negatively impact the health outcomes of racial and ethnic minority groups. In the United States, racial and ethnic minority groups experience higher rates of illness and deaths related to chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and heart disease. In the healthcare setting, providing culturally and linguistically appropriate information to patients from minority populations including American Indian/ Alaska Native (AIAN) communities, is critical for improving health outcomes and promoting health equity. However, achieving health equity requires more than providing healthcare coverage for all, it requires the dismantling of long-existing structural bias, systemic racism, and social disparities that continue to create challenges for minorities in accessing equitable and high-quality healthcare. (more…)

On January 30, 2023, the Biden Administration announced the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) effective May 11th. Though this may seem like the final step towards a post-pandemic world, it is dreadful news for 7 to 15 million people in the U.S. who could lose their health insurance as early as now. The public health emergency declaration created many benefits especially for those who had no or limited health coverage. The most important advantage is the federal law called the continuous enrollment requirement that mandated states to stop all Medicaid, Medicare, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility redeterminations. This protected millions from losing their much-needed health coverage during the pandemic. The continuous enrollment requirement expired on March 31, 2023, which will restart Medicaid redeterminations and eligibility checks.Up to 15 million people in the U.S. will lose their health coverage because of this. To make matters worse, almost 6 million people who are actually still eligible for coverage will be dropped due to administrative issues, namely the churning process. (more…)

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In March, it will have been three years since the spread of COVID-19 prompted lockdowns across the United States and the world. At different points throughout the past three years, hospitals have overflowed with patients, nursing homes have been overwhelmed and understaffed, school years interrupted and businesses shuttered. The anniversary of those initial lockdowns marks a time of dramatic change, grief, and anxiety that has impacted personal and professional lives. Today, three years later, life looks very different: masks and social distancing are no longer mandated, schools have largely resumed in-person classes, restaurants and other shops are open for business.  (more…)