Mental health care is playing a starring role in a movement to unseat Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. After major budget cuts, members of the City Council’s Progressive Caucus are demanding to reopen shuttered clinics by adding $2.2 million to the budget the Council will vote on November 13 .
Even as much of California’s housing market has begun to recover, foreclosures and vacant homes continue to plague the South Los Angeles community of Watts.
Angelo Solis, a homeless alcoholic, racked up nearly $1 million in medical charges over three years. His case represents the immense health care costs associated with homelessness. Sarah Arnquist offers advice on how to report on this important topic.
Frank J. Mecca is executive director of the County Welfare Directors Association of California, or CWDA, a nonprofit association representing the human service directors from each of California's 58 counties. The association seeks to promote a human services system that encourages self-sufficiency of families and communities, and protects vulnerable children and adults from abuse and neglect.
The health concerns of African-Americans are varied and critical. African-American men have the highest death rate of all racial and ethnic groups, male and female. The 10 leading causes of death for African-Americans are: heart disease; cancer; stroke; diabetes; unintentional injuries; homicide; nephritis, nephritic syndrome and nephrosis; chronic lower respiratory disease; HIV/AIDS and septicemia. There is also a high prevalence of hypertension, infant mortality and tuberculosis.
