Related Materials

Purpose of the Dellums Commission 
The charge of the Commission is to analyze the impact of several key public policies on the physical, emotional and social health of youth and their communities and recommend actions aimed at improving life options for young men of color.  For example, the Commission is examines policies in education, mental health, family support, child welfare, legal defense systems, and juvenile and criminal justice.


Better Health Through Stronger Communities: Public Policy Reform to Expand Life Paths of Young Men of Color

During the past three decades, a series of policies enacted have had a negative impact upon young men from communities of color.

These policies range from the abandonment of rehabilitation and treatment for drug users in favor of interdiction and criminal sanctions in the 1980's, to state policies to divert youthful offenders to adult criminal systems and the imposition of zero tolerance policies to exclude youth with problems from public schools in the 1990's.

The hardening of these policies has had a cumulative effect of limiting life options for young men of color as indicated by increasing high school drop-out rates and declining enrollment in in post-secondary education and by increasing rates of incarceration. Resulting incarceration and recidivism rates have devastating consequences on communities, families, and individual health.

The current status of public policies concerning youth goes beyond the prison system. This Commission will analyze the impact of several key public policies on the physical, emotional and social health of youth and their communities and recommend actions aimed at reversing this troubling trend.

These public policies include the adoption of the state child health program (SCHIPP), federal and state welfare reform, state dis-investment in mental health services, state policies to transfer jurisdiction over certain young offenders from juvenile courts to adult courts, and zero tolerance policies that exclude children and youth with behavioral problems from schools.

An initiative funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation bringing together Families USA, the Joint Center Health Policy Institute, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, and the National Medical Association.

MISSION
The overarching mission of the Alliance is to empower African-American and Latino community leaders and health care journalists with pertinent information about health policy developments to expand their capacity to address and catalyze action on crucial health care issues; bolster African-American and Latino leaders' efforts to play a more influential role in advocating for health policies that are of relevance to their respective communities; and engage African-American and Latino leaders in the national health policy sharing and development process.

Toward that end, the Alliance members, both individually and collectively are actively engaged in efforts to fulfill the intended mission, goals and objectives of the W.K. Kellogg funded grant.

Dellums Commission Begins Work On Public Policy Reform To Expand Life Paths Of Young Men Of Color
July 26, 2005

Dellums Commission, National Bar Association To Address ‘Crisis Of Young Men Of Color In America’
November 5, 2005

Dellums Commission Calls For Reducing The Number Of Minority Youths Tried As Adults
November 7, 2005

Dellums Commission Cites ‘Crisis’ Among Young Black Males; Calls For New Policy Directions
March 27, 2006

Wide Ranging Study Aims to Boost Prospects for Minority Men
July, 2005 - The Washington Post

Joint Center Scholar Leads 'Fair Health' Movement
October, 2005 - The Afro American Newspapers

Life Options for Young Men of Color
September/October, 2005 - FOCUS Magazine

National Academy of Social Insurance
October 6, 2006

This one-day seminar for national, state, and local policymakers, health policy leaders, researchers, professors, students, journalists and others with an interest in health policy and aging will feature the latest information on the Medicare Part D drug benefit and the latest findings from a NASI study panel on reducing ethnic and racial health disparities in the Medicare program. 

Program Invitation

The Joint Center Health Policy Institute and Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural & Minority Medicine (IAMMM)
May 18-19, 2006

The Joint Center Health Policy Institute and IAMMM co-sponsored a comprehensive interactive workshop for media professionals, local, state, and municipal legislators, and emerging civic leaders May 18-19, 2006. Participants gained knowledge and practical skills to help them become effective advocates for the elimination of health disparities among African Americans and other communities of color.

Agenda    
Attendees by Category    
Fact Sheet Enclosure    
Health Disparities and the Minority-Majority

On Issues Facing Public Housing Residents
Thursday, September 8, 2005

The Joint Center Health Policy Institute sponsored a joint forum with the District of Columbia Housing Authority to address issues of health related to housing resident from across the country. Participants included resident council officers, directors of resident programs; recipients of HUD grantees, resident commissioners, and other stakeholders.

Health Services for Public Housing Residents Fact Sheet    
Public Housing Forum Agenda
Combined Biographical Sketches of Panelists    
Health and Housing Presentation Popkin    
Health Policy Forum 9.8