Long Beach’s first-ever Black Community Health Strengths and Needs Assessment was presented to the city council on Dec. 2, providing a much needed pathway to improve the social, mental and economic health disparities facing Long Beach’s Black community.
Only highlights were presented to City officials at last week’s meeting, as the full report is being finalized by the community workgroup and will be released to the public in early January. Also in the next year, Director of Health Alison King said the workgroup will form a committee to carry out the group’s recommended actions, present the report to the public to raise awareness and create a three-year strategic plan.
“The real work is using that information to change how we fund, design and deliver programs,” Black Health Equity Coordinator Kevin Hatcher said. “This assessment is just the beginning. The goal is to impact lasting and measurable change in Black health and well-being across Long Beach.”…