Community Health Reform Forum Hears Voice of Minority Residents

DETROIT The voice of minority communities has been largely absent in this years health reform debate. On Saturday, Nov. 7, Second Ebenezer Church and Molina Healthcare of Michigan will host a free community forum on national health care reform, together with several community organizations.

FOR RELEASE October 23, 2009

Contact:
Dennis Archambault
313-477-7239

Community Health Reform Forum Hears Voice of Minority Residents at Second Ebenezer Church, Nov. 7
Forum offers opportunity for people to ask questions and learn more about national health reform

The forum, Health Reform: REAL TALK What is it? What does it mean? will take place at Second Ebenezer Church, 14601 Dequindre St., Detroit, from noon to 5 p.m. Health information, flu shots and refreshments will be available.

The program will begin at 1 p.m. with a forum on health reform featuring a panel of medical and health policy experts, with specific reference to issues pertaining to minority communities. To assure adequate input from minority communities, a question and answer period will comprise much of the forum. Participants will learn about health insurance programs such as Medicaid and MIChild, as well as receive other health information.

We have a moral imperative to create a health care system with the inclusion of all people, including all minority communities in America, said Bishop Edgar L. Vann, II senior pastor of Second Ebenezer Church. We have created a forum that will ensure that the voice of all minorities is heard and that our community will learn how health reform will affect them. Additionally, we want our elected officials to hear this voice clearly and act upon it.
Molina Healthcares goal is to be a joint organizer alongside the faith-based community to provide a much-needed forum and conference to facilitate community building and partnership, promote healthcare reform principles through an educational outreach initiative to a more diverse demographic and socio-economic constituency, according to Jesse Thomas, president of Molina Healthcare of Michigan. Most importantly, we want to be able to bridge the healthcare entitlement gap. This is especially relevant during these challenging economic times where stakeholder collaboration and leveraging of mutually beneficial resources are crucial.
In addition to Second Ebenezer Church and Molina Healthcare of Michigan, the forum is co-hosted by the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority, Greater Detroit Area Health Council, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Health Organization/Project Healthy Living.

For more information on the conference, visit www.secondebenezer.org