Policy Summit 2005: Black Women's Health

"It's Time to Act Up! Taking Our Policy Advocacy to the Next Level."
By: Taara Hassan

On February 11, 2005, the California Black Women's Health Project (CABWHP) held its fifth annual Policy Summit entitled, "It's Time to Act Up! Taking Our Policy Advocacy to the Next Level." Grassroots leaders, health service providers, government representatives and policy advocates convened at the Sierra Health Foundation in Sacramento to provide input and analysis to a statewide action plan to address Black women's mental, emotional and physical health.

Summit participants had an opportunity to hear from graduates of our Advocate Training program about their work to implement the policy ideas that were framed at past Policy Summits. In addition, several outstanding advocates addressed important health policy issues. "Race, Gender and Justice: The New Frontier in Advocacy" was the first presentation by Sujatha Jesudason, Director of the Project on Gender, Justice and Human Genetics at the Center for Genetics and Society. Attendees were able to engage in an exceptional presentation and discussion on the moral and ethical implications of the new science of reproductive genetics and its impact on race and women's rights.

Rebecca Gonzalez of the California Budget Project highlighted key budget advocacy issues in her presentation entitled "California Budget: Starving the Monster and Preparing for the Future." At our Legislative Update Luncheon, representatives from the offices of Senators Kuehl and Ortiz and Assemblymembers Dymally and Horton spoke about legislative advocacy opportunities to improve Black women's health. During the afternoon session, Rene Mollow (Associate Director of Health Policy at the CA Department of Health Services) and Angela Gilliard (Legislative Advocate, Western Center on Law and Poverty) presented a timely and informative panel discussion entitled "MediCal Redesign: Overview and Advocacy Opportunities."

To conclude the Summit, the participants gathered into intimate working groups to plan future advocacy by CABWHP. Policy Summit 2005 was an informative and inspiring event. The participants walked away with knowledge of cutting edge issues affecting Black women's health, ideas for advocacy, and an evolving plan for action.