Rep. Hicks-Hudson Co-sponsors Resolution to Declare Racism a
Public Health Crisis
Resolution provides
meaningful actions to address racial health disparities,
dismantle systemic racism in Ohio
Special to The Truth
Last week, State Rep. Paula
Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) signed on as a co-sponsor to House
Democratic priority legislation to declare racism a public
health crisis. Previously introduced in the 133rd General
Assembly as HCR 31, the resolution provides meaningful
action steps to address racial health disparities and begin
to dismantle systemic racism in Ohio.
"The data showing the
devastating effects of COVID-19 on people of color further
highlights that race plays a major factor in survival and
recovery. In order to the solve the problem, we must first
acknowledge it. This resolution does that," said Rep.
Passer.
The resolution comes as
Black Ohioans experience lower vaccination rates than white
Ohioans, and COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted Black
and brown communities. Black and brown Ohioans also continue
to face differences in health outcomes such as higher infant
and maternal mortality rates, higher incidences of childhood
trauma, higher youth incarceration rates, higher poverty
rates, and a life expectancy almost four years below white
Ohioans.
The resolution calls for the
following actions:
* Establishing a
glossary of terms and definitions concerning racism and
health equity;
* Assert that racism is
a public health crisis affecting our entire community;
* Incorporating
educational efforts to address and dismantle racism, and
expand understanding of racism and how racism affects
individual and population health;
* Promoting community
engagement, actively engaging citizens on issues of racism,
and providing tools to engage actively and authentically
with communities of color;
* Committing to review
all portions of codified ordinances with a racial equity
lens;
* Committing to conduct
all human resources, vendor selection and grant management
activities with a racial equity lens including reviewing all
internal policies and practices such as hiring, promotions,
leadership appointments and funding;
* Promoting racially
equitable economic and workforce development practices;
* Promoting and
encouraging all policies that prioritize the health of
people of color, and support local, state, regional, and
federal initiatives that advance efforts to dismantle
systematic racism and mitigating exposure to adverse
childhood experience and trauma training of all elected
officials, staff, funders and grantees on workplace biases
and how to mitigate them;
* Partnering and
building alliances with local organizations that have a
legacy and track record of confronting racism;
* Encouraging community
partners and stakeholders in the education, employment,
housing, and criminal justice and safety arenas to recognize
racism as a public health crisis and to activate the above
items;
* Securing adequate
resources to successfully accomplish the above activities.
The resolution now awaits
referral to a House committee. |