AAAC and National Kidney Foundation of CT

Unveil Public Education Campaign

First-of-its-Kind Initiative Focuses on At-Risk Minority Population

The African American Affairs Commission (AAAC) pledged its support of the National Kidney Foundation of Connecticut's (NKF) first-of-its-kind Urban Outreach Public Education Campaign targeted at Connecticut's minority community. 

According to the National Kidney Foundation of Connecticut, the prevalence and incidence rates of kidney disease among African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans are significantly greater than among Caucasians.  In fact, African Americans constitute about 33 percent of all patients treated for kidney failure in the United States, but only about 13 percent of the overall U.S. population. 

"The numbers are staggering," said Kim Hathaway, Chief Executive Officer of the National Kidney Foundation of Connecticut.  "This campaign was designed to educate minorities across the state, and familiarize these communities with the NKF, and provide information about the impact of kidney disease."

In joint kick-off press conferences in Hartford and Bridgeport in October of this year, with Speaker of the House James Amann (118^th District), AAAC Executive Director Glenn Cassis said, "The Commission is proud to partner with the Kidney Foundation of Connecticut to help educate African-Americans and the minority community about the importance of prevention, early detection, and treatment of kidney disease." 

The advertising campaign includes radio, transit, posters and a public relations program.  Most importantly the NKF will be traveling throughout the state to educate the minority population about their increased risk of kidney disease.  Information about kidney disease will also be available on the African-American Affairs Commission's website at http://www.cga.ct.gov/aaac/ resources.php.  

   "The goal of the program is to educate the minority population of their risk factors for kidney disease," said Terri Smith, Director of the Urban Outreach Program at the National Kidney Foundation of CT.  "Minorities are three to five times more likely to be struck by kidney disease than non-minorities.  Improving how we educate the minority population may help shrink the healthcare gap currently separating whites and minorities when it comes to chronic kidney disease.  Armed with knowledge of the disease and the high risk factors and implications for the families touched by this disease empowers people, enabling them to make better choices about their health"

Speaker James Amann, whose wife Terri is the recipient of a kidney transplant said "I commend the NKF for recognizing this as an epidemic and taking steps to do something about it."  For his part, Amann has committed $100,000 of State funding to help the campaign and reach NKF's goal of educating minority residents in Connecticut.  

About NKF of Connecticut

The NKF is the only voluntary health agency dedicated exclusively to the eradication of kidney and urinary tract diseases. Supported entirely by donations from individuals, corporations and foundations, the NKF of Connecticut funds medical research in the fields of nephrology (kidney disease), transplantation and urology, and provides education and support services to patients, transplant recipients and their families and to kidney health professional in Connecticut. With the aid of funds raised statewide through various programs, the NKF helps thousands of people across Connecticut, including more than 3,000 dialysis patients and an estimated 600 residents currently waiting for kidney transplants. The NKF has been given a four star rating from Charity Navigator, the largest charity evaluator in America. For more information, please visit http://www.kidneyct.org/.

The African-American Affairs Commission Mission: 

To improve and promote the economic development, education, health and political well being of the African-American Community in the State of Connecticut through advocacy, information sharing, cultural awareness, community networking and influencing legislation. For more information, visit http://www.cga.ct.gov/aaac  or call (860) 240-8555.

 

 Left to Right :  Cheryl Harris Forbes, AAAC Public Affairs/ Special Project Coordinator,  Kim Hathaway, Chief Executive Officer of the National Kidney Foundation of Connecticut,  Glenn Cassis, Executive Director - State of Connecticut African American Affairs Commission (AAAC), Terri Smith, Director of the Urban Outreach Program at the National Kidney Foundation of CT .

 

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AAAC and KNOW HOW TO GO COMMITTEE

STEER STUDENTS TO COLLEGE & CASH

The State of Connecticut African-American Affairs Commission and the College Ready Connecticut Advisory Committee announce that Connecticut now joins 20 other states in the Know How To Go national campaign. Know How To Go's goal is to educate students about steps they need to take to make their college dreams come true.  Know How To Go targets low-income students in grades 7 - 12, and students who are likely to be the first in their family to pursue post-secondary education.

The campaign is a national collaboration between Lumina Foundation for Education, the American Council on Education, and the Ad Council.

Know How To Go uses the Internet website, http://www.knowhowtogo.org/ , to inform students and parents of the four basic steps to go to college:  1.) Be a Pain - in a good way,  2.) Push Yourself and Don't Stop, 3.) Find the Right Fit and  4.) Put Your Hands on Some Cash.

GET HELP GETTING THE CASH

 

Know How To Go - Connecticut will help students take a crucial step to find the money they need to finance their education.   On February 10, 2008, from 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.,  Know How To Go - Connecticut will sponsor College Goal Sunday.   The purpose of the event will be to assist high school seniors to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.  The FAFSA form is mandatory for Federal student financial aid.

Simultaneous sessions will be held at Capital Community College (Hartford.), Gateway Community College (New Haven), Housatonic Community College (Bridgeport), Norwalk Community College and Wesleyan University (Middletown/Meriden).

With leadership support from Governor M. Jodi Rell, the State of Connecticut Departments of Education, Higher Education and several agencies, non-profit organizations and associations, Connecticut students will be able to become well informed about how to go to college. Radio and television public service announcements will be broadcast. Middle and high schools will receive Know How To Go brochures and posters to distribute to students, teachers and families.

The State of Connecticut African-American Affairs Commission is a major supporter of the Know How To Go initiative. For more information contact Glenn Cassis, AAAC (860)-240-8555 or Ann Gaulin, State Department of Education (860) 713-6769 or visit  http://www.knowhow2go.org/.

  

KNOWHOW2GO STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Glenn A. Cassis, Executive Director - African-American Affairs Commission

Gail Stevens -Director, College Pathways Initiative Norwalk Community College

Ann R. Gaulin - High School Program Manager, CT State Department of Education

Donna Thompson - Director, Wesleyan Upward Bound/ConnCap

Carolyn M. Stanek - Project Associate, National Initiatives American Council on Education

Arthur Poole - Director, GEAR UP and Educational Opportunity

Susan Hanchard - Early Awareness and College Planning Officer, CT Student Loan Foundation

Constance Fraser - Director of Communications, CT Department of Higher Education

Gloria Ragosta - Vice President, CT Conference of Independent Colleges

Bernard L. Kavaler - Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs, Connecticut State University System

 

 

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AAAC, DPH and Stroke Association Ban Together to Block Stroke

 

PARTNERSHIP & CAMPAIGN

 

While stroke is a serious health concern for many people, it disproportionately affects African-Americans. That’s why the African-American Affairs Commission (AAAC) has teamed up with the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) and the American Stroke Association to increase awareness of stroke as a medical condition and how to prevent it.

 

The partnership’s first public information campaign was launched in May and will continue through June 2006. Currently four African-American interest newspapers are running stroke prevention advertisements. Sixteen radio stations are broadcasting public service announcements voiced by Channel 8’s Keith Kountz. Additional public outreach, education and information efforts are in the process of being planned.

 

STROKE & THE STATS
A stroke or “brain attack” is a sudden interruption in the blood supply to the brain. Usually strokes are caused by an abrupt blockage of arteries leading to the brain. Other strokes are caused by bleeding in the brain when a blood vessel bursts.

 

In its report of national data, the American Heart Association found:

1. Blacks have almost twice the risk of first-ever strokes compared to whites.
2. Blacks have higher death rates for stroke compared to whites.
3. The prevalence of high blood pressure in African Americans in the United States is the highest in the world.

 

Unfortunately, Connecticut mirrors these trends. According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health:

Black females have significantly higher age-adjusted stroke death rates compared with white and Hispanic females in Connecticut (Age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population, 1999-2001; black females – 58.0, white females – 45.5, Hispanic females - 37.9) Black males and females have significantly higher premature mortality up to age 75 compared with white males and females in Connecticut (Age-adjusted Years of Potential Life Lost Rates per 100,000 population, 1999-2001: black males – 306.9, white males - 116.0, Hispanic males – 157.2, black females 292.1, white females 99.9, Hispanic females 112.2 – Hispanic vs. white male and Hispanic vs. white female rates are not significantly different).

 

There are a number of factors that can contribute to increased stroke risk. The most frequent causes are hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and cigarette smoking. To protect your health and the health of those you care for, it’s important to know that a stroke is a medical emergency. If you see or have one or more of the following symptoms that last for more than a few minutes, call 9-1-1 immediately.

 

STROKE WARNING SIGNS:

 

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

 

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

 

For more information about strokes and how you can help prevent them, contact the African-American Affaris Commission (860) 240-8555, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (860) 509-8211, or the American Stroke Association at http://www.strokeassociation.org