THE CRISIS OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN SOUTH LA

The Los Angeles CAFA Collaborative advanced current conversations regarding the connection between slum housing conditions and a number of chronic and acute health conditions impacting children and families in south Los Angeles with the publication of the Shame of the City “white paper” (Slum Housing and the Critical Threat to the Health of L.A. Children and Families, published in April 2007). The health of South LA continues to deteriorate – chronic institutional underfunding of health care services, substandard environmental and living conditions, and lack of necessary health services has contributed to this growing health and human rights crisis. Addressing the fundamental crisis of health and human rights in south Los Angeles has become a key priority of the L.A. CAFA collaborative.

In south Los Angeles there is an opportunity to share lessons and leverage resources for how to create marked and measurable improvements in the health and well-being of children, adolescents and families. On June 5th, 2009, the Los Angeles CAFA Collaborative and other advocates for health and human rights will join forces in a community whose health has been marred by a long history of inequality and neglect, to highlight homegrown solutions, explore transnational partnerships, and demonstrate the effectiveness of community-led, place-based, and results-oriented approaches to healthier communities and human rights.

Conference Purpose and Goals

The purpose of the 1st Annual Health and Human Rights Conference in south Los Angeles is to bring advocates and workers from the grassroots and treetops together in a historic gathering to highlight and push for measurable improvements in health and human rights. On June 5th, 2009, leaders, providers, and advocates from all levels will convene to:

Highlight good work

Catalyze new partnerships

Commit to collaborative action

Amplify our Call to Action in Health and Human Rights

The health outcomes of those in south LA reflect the underlying epidemic in the social determinants of poor health including food insecurity, slum housing, child and family poverty, job insecurity, uncoordinated health services, and rising rents, evictions and foreclosures. The recent closure of a majority of the public and private hospitals serving south Los Angeles has compounded a preexisting scarcity of comprehensive, affordable health care and contributed to a perform storm of poor health and chronic human rights violations in south Los Angeles. While local coalitions, community clinics, hospitals, advocacy groups and nonprofits have pieced together a safety net to address these chronic health inequities, the situation is worsening and requires a systemic and coordinated approach.

The Los Angeles CAFA Collaborative with sponsors such as The California Endowment are seizing an unprecedented opportunity to advance the health and human rights movement in south Los Angeles and beyond.

For more information about the conference please contact:

Jim Mangia
President & CEO, St. John’s Well Child & Family Center
jimmangia@wellchild.org

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