It’s time WE DO MORE about Our Health & Wellness.

As a demographic group in the United States, African Americans face distinct health challenges and disparities compared to the general population…

1. Life Expectancy: Historically, life expectancy for African Americans has been lower than that of the overall population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the life expectancy for African Americans is shorter compared to whites, with factors such as socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and prevalence of chronic diseases playing significant roles.
2. Chronic Diseases: African Americans have higher rates of several chronic diseases compared to other racial and ethnic groups. These include higher rates of hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and certain types of cancer such as breast and prostate cancer.
3. Infant Mortality: Infant mortality rates among African Americans have historically been higher than those of other racial and ethnic groups. Factors contributing to this disparity include inadequate access to prenatal care, higher rates of preterm births, and socioeconomic factors.
4. Mental Health: African Americans face unique mental health challenges, including higher rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, they are less likely to receive mental health treatment compared to white Americans due to factors such as stigma, cultural barriers, and limited access to mental health services.
5. Access to Healthcare: African Americans are more likely to be uninsured compared to whites, although the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has helped to reduce this gap to some extent. Despite improvements in access to healthcare, disparities persist in the quality of care received by African Americans, including issues related to provider bias and cultural competency.
6. Social Determinants of Health: Socioeconomic factors such as poverty, unemployment, housing instability, and food insecurity disproportionately affect African Americans and contribute to health disparities. These social determinants of health play a significant role in shaping health outcomes within the African American community.

Efforts to address health disparities among African Americans involve comprehensive and multiple approaches that focus on improving access to quality healthcare, addressing social determinants of health, promoting health education and awareness, and reducing systemic barriers to healthcare access and delivery.

And therefore… The Foundation of Youth Wellness Organization was born.