FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2014
Twlia Laster
The SOL Project
tl_solproject@yahoo.com
1-888-774-7685 ext. 100
INCREASING MINIMUM WAGE COULD IMPROVE HEALTH EQUITY
“I would unite with anybody to do right; and with nobody to do wrong”
Fredrick Douglass
SACRAMENTO, CA – Health Equity is defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as the study of differences in the quality of health and health care access across racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and socioeconomic groups. Health inequity occurs when people experience historical discrimination and present day practices and policies that greatly increase social and economic obstacles to health and clean environments based on factors including their racial or ethnic group; socioeconomic status; gender; age; mental health; cognitive or physical disability; sexual orientation; or geographic location. Examples of health inequalities are higher rates of diabetes and heart disease among African American versus other populations. The American Diabetes Association reports that 4.9 million Non-Hispanic Blacks age 20 years or older have diabetes, compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. The risk of diagnosed diabetes is 1.8 higher for Non-Hispanic Blacks. The Office of Minority Health reports that heart disease is the leading killer across most racial and ethnic minority communities in the United States, accounting for 24% of all deaths. African American men and women are 30% more likely to die from heart disease than non-Hispanic Whites.
These inequalities exist because of where people live, their education, and their socioeconomic status. These are called social determinants of health. The Center for Disease Control defines social determinants of health as the economic and social conditions that influence the health of people and communities. Health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes are shaped by the amount of money, power, and resources that people have, all of which are influenced by policy choices. Addressing social determinants of health is a primary approach to achieving health equity.
A very powerful example of a policy that will positively impact health is being considered by our legislature this week, which is increasing minimum wage. How much a person earns is a factor that is related to health outcome. Increasing minimum wage on an annual basis to ensure that minimum wage workers are not living in poverty represents an example of an upstream approach to address the social determinants of health. Having a livable wage to afford quality food and housing will address social determinants of health. Last year, Governor Brown signed legislation which increases the states minimum wage to $10 per hour by January 1, 2016, but that is still not enough in California. Recently, Senator Mark Leno (D – San Francisco) introduced SB 935 which proposes to increase the state’s minimum wage to $11 per hour in 2015, $12 per hour in 2016, $13 per hour in 2017 and beginning 2018, the state minimum wage would be increased annually with the rate of inflation.
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The Senate Appropriations Committee will determine the fate of over 500 bills tomorrow, Friday, May 23rd. On the list for consideration is SB 935 (Leno). Your voice can make the difference. Call or fax your support to the Committee:
Senator Kevin de León (Chair)
Tel: (916) 651-4022
Fax: (916) 327-8817
Senator Mimi Walters (Vice Chair)
Phone: 916.651.4037
Fax: 916.651.4937
Senator Ted Gaines
Phone: 916.651.4001
Fax: 916.651.4901
Senator Jerry Hill
Phone: (916) 651-4013
Fax: (916) 651-4913
Senator Ricardo Lara
Phone: (916) 651-4033
Fax: (916) 651-4933
Senator Alex Padilla
Phone: (916) 651-4020
Fax: (916) 651-4920
Senator Darrell Steinberg
Phone: (916) 651-4006
Fax: (916) 651-4906
Saving Our Legacy, African Americans for Smoke Free Safe Places (The SOL Project) is coordinating a collaborative of health-focused professionals to share ideas and strategies to address healthy equity and social determenants of health. The collaborative is working together to develop a community action plan that is addressing health issues in the African American community. The SOL Project advocates for healthy, smoke-free communities in Sacramento and San Joaquin counties. The SOL Project is a project of the Public Health Foundation Enterprises and it is funded through Proposition 99, the tobacco tax initiative.
For more information and to volunteer with the SOL project campaigns, please call Twlia at 1-888-774-7685 or email tl_solproject@yahoo.com.
Download this press release as a PDF.
