Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities

Joyce James

Associate Deputy Executive Commissioner

Sheila Sturgis Craig

Disproportionality Project Manager

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Mission

To partner with Health and Human Service Commission agencies and external stakeholders to identify and eliminate disproportionality and disparities

3Source: 1. Myers, 2010 (See Don Baumann for complete citation). 2. Ibid. 3.ojjdp.gov/dmc; NEA, “Disproportionality: Inappropriate identification of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Children,”

Term DefinitionMost commonly used in:

DisproportionalityThe comparison of persons of a certain race or ethnicity in a target

population (e.g., African American children) to persons in a reference (or base) population (e.g., Anglo children).1

Child welfare

Health Disparity

A particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social or economic disadvantage. Health disparities adversely affect groups of people who have experienced greater social or economic obstacles to health based on their racial or ethnic group, religion, socioeconomic status, gender, mental health, cognitive, sensory, or physical disability, sexual orientation, geography, or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion. 3

Health

DMC – Disproportionate minority contact

The disproportionate number of minority youth that come into contact with the juvenile justice system Juvenile justice

Achievement gapThe observed disparity on a number of educational measures between

the performance of groups of students Education

Many terms are used to describe racial inequity in outcomes across systems

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Activity

Dot Exercise

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Texas Cross Systems Data

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Infant Mortality Rate by Race/Ethnicity - Texas, 2009

HIV Data for Youth 11-17 year old

Chart 10a: 2007 HIV infection rates for Texas adolescents (11-17)

0.8

7.1

1.41.9

0

1

2

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5

6

7

8

White African Am Hispanic Total

Race/ethnicity

Rat

es p

er 1

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00 p

opul

atio

n

Texas Deaths by Race/Ethnicity

2008 Texas: Years of Potential Life Lost Before Age 65 by Cause of Death and Race/Ethnicity

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Accidents [Injuries]

Malignant Neoplasms [Cancer]

Diseases of the Heart

Conditions Arising in Perinatal Period

Intentional Self-Harm [Suicide]

Assault [Homicide]

Congenital Malformations

Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis

Cerebrovascular Disease [Stroke]

Diabetes Mellitus

Cau

se o

f D

eath

Years of Potential Life Lost

WHITE** BLACK HISPANIC

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Legislation• History of Work and H.O.P.E.• In January 2005, the 79th Texas Legislature

passed Senate Bill 6.

• In September 2007 the 80th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 758.

• In September 2010 the creation of the new Center by Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs.

• In May 2011 Senate Bill 501 established in Law an Interagency Council (IC) led by Joyce James and establishes the Center as the state of Texas Office of Minority Health.

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SB501 Partners• HHSC, CEDD, DADS, DARS, DSHS, DFPS• Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD)• Texas Education Association (TEA)• Office of Court Administration (OCA)• Office of Attorney General (OAG)• Supreme Court Permanent Judicial Commission for

Children, Youth and Families• Community Based Representative• Faith-Based Representative• Foster Care Youth Alumni• Two Medical Community Representatives

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The Texas Model

• Data Driven Strategies• Leadership Development • Cultural Competent Workforce• Community Engagement• Cross Systems Collaborations• Training Defined by Anti-Racist Principles• An Understanding of the History of

Institutionalized Racism and the Impact on Poor Communities and Communities of Color

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Activity

Why Are People Poor?

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History of Institutionalized Racism

• An Analysis of Power

• Impact on Poor Communities

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Video

“A Girl Like Me”

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Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities

Success is dependent on mutual accountability at every level across every system, so that the end result is elimination of disproportionality

and disparities.

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Contact Information Center for Elimination of

Disproportionality and Disparities

Joyce JamesAssociate Deputy Executive Commissioner,DisparitiesJoyce.james@hhsc.state.tx.us(512) 487-3396

Sheila Sturgis CraigDisproportionality and Disparities Project Manager, Sheila.craig@hhsc.state.tx.us(512) 487-3359