Rep. Elijah E. Cummings speaks while Rep. Donna Edwards listens at the Forum on Racial Equality organized by Advocates for Children and Youth at Columbia's Wilde Lake Interfaith Center. About 50 people attended. (Baltimore Sun photo by Barbara Haddock Taylor / September 14, 2009) |
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Rep. Donna Edwards said on Monday that proposed legislation overhauling health care would likely address racial disparities in education and health among children, linking the topics in a joint address with Rep. Elijah E. Cummings to advocates and education leaders in Columbia.
The two-hour forum, put on by Advocates for Children and Youth, an independent statewide nonprofit organization, addressed statistics released earlier this summer by the group that showed the infant mortality rate to be 8 deaths per 1,000 births in Maryland, with African-American babies dying at a 2.5 times higher rate than white babies.
The organization's report also states that 49 percent of Latino kindergartners are ready for school, compared to 70 percent of their white counterparts.
At the meeting at Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, both representatives connected poor health care in children to negative effects in learning. The conversation turned into a plug for health care legislation, as the topic is expected to return to national prominence this week.
"There are some concrete things, such as making a greater investment in community health centers as a way to deliver health care services, that is meaningful for some of our most vulnerable communities," said Edwards, a Democrat who represents parts of Prince George's and Montgomery counties. "I feel really confident that we're on the right track there. The irony of all the health care discussion is a lot of that good stuff, nobody ever talks about it. So most people don't know those things are in there."
Cummings, a Baltimore Democrat, spoke of low expectations in minority communities of education and health, again relaying the story of a Prince George's boy who died after a tooth infection spread to his brain. Cummings has supported President Barack Obama's proposed changes to the U.S. health care system.
"When we listen to the debate in regards to health care, some people need to take the blinders off. There're a lot of people who are suffering needlessly," Cummings said.
Edwards said the health care bill would transform the way services are delivered, such as placing nurses in all schools.
About 50 people, mostly state workers from the Department of Human Resources, education leaders and representatives from other child welfare agencies, attended the forum.
Edwards said Prince George's County has just one federally funded community health care center, a reason why she supports changing the system. Edwards is serving her first term in office.
"We know, for example, on health care, that there are tremendous disparities in terms of research dollars, disparities in terms of treating health outcomes and prevention. We have to get much smarter about making those investments in a way that results in positive health outcomes," Edwards said. "The Congressional Black Caucus has been really aggressive in making sure our final legislation includes health disparity language."
The two-hour forum, put on by Advocates for Children and Youth, an independent statewide nonprofit organization, addressed statistics released earlier this summer by the group that showed the infant mortality rate to be 8 deaths per 1,000 births in Maryland, with African-American babies dying at a 2.5 times higher rate than white babies.
The organization's report also states that 49 percent of Latino kindergartners are ready for school, compared to 70 percent of their white counterparts.
At the meeting at Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, both representatives connected poor health care in children to negative effects in learning. The conversation turned into a plug for health care legislation, as the topic is expected to return to national prominence this week.
"There are some concrete things, such as making a greater investment in community health centers as a way to deliver health care services, that is meaningful for some of our most vulnerable communities," said Edwards, a Democrat who represents parts of Prince George's and Montgomery counties. "I feel really confident that we're on the right track there. The irony of all the health care discussion is a lot of that good stuff, nobody ever talks about it. So most people don't know those things are in there."
Cummings, a Baltimore Democrat, spoke of low expectations in minority communities of education and health, again relaying the story of a Prince George's boy who died after a tooth infection spread to his brain. Cummings has supported President Barack Obama's proposed changes to the U.S. health care system.
"When we listen to the debate in regards to health care, some people need to take the blinders off. There're a lot of people who are suffering needlessly," Cummings said.
Edwards said the health care bill would transform the way services are delivered, such as placing nurses in all schools.
About 50 people, mostly state workers from the Department of Human Resources, education leaders and representatives from other child welfare agencies, attended the forum.
Edwards said Prince George's County has just one federally funded community health care center, a reason why she supports changing the system. Edwards is serving her first term in office.
"We know, for example, on health care, that there are tremendous disparities in terms of research dollars, disparities in terms of treating health outcomes and prevention. We have to get much smarter about making those investments in a way that results in positive health outcomes," Edwards said. "The Congressional Black Caucus has been really aggressive in making sure our final legislation includes health disparity language."
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"statistics released earlier this summer by the group that showed the infant mortality rate to be 8 deaths per 1,000 births in Maryland, with African-American babies dying at a 2.5 times higher rate than white babies"
Why would they release ststistics that didn't support their position? This is a no-brainer if you take a minute to analyze the situation. Infant mortality can be traced to improper pre-natal care ie how the mother behaves during the pregnancy. I worked with a minority woman who continued to smoke throughout her term with the idea that she wanted an easy delivery (smoking was responsible for low birth weight). Duh? Latino children aren't ready for school because they don't speak English. Send them to Mexico if you want their scores to quickly improve. Smoke and mirrors for the President's health care agenda. Don't buy it.
lw7988 (09/17/2009, 6:04 AM )