ASU, Asian/Pacific Islander group to team up on health project

<p>The Center for Health Information &amp; Research at <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/gen/Arizona_State_University_9C3550E… State University</a> has joined a coalition to improve the health of the Asian/Pacific Islander community in Maricopa County.</p><separator></separator><p>The center was awarded a subcontract to work with the <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/related_content.html?topic=Asian%20P… Pacific Community in Action</a>, which received a four-year, $600,000 grant from the Asian &amp; Pacific Islander American Health Forum and the <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/related_content.html?topic=WK%20Kell…. Kellogg Foundation</a>. This grant represents the first time a private national foundation has partnered with a national Asian and Pacific Islander organization to address health disparities, said Doug Hirano, APCA executive director.</p><separator></separator><p>The Valley is home to more than 120,000 Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans, according to the <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/related_content.html?topic=Arizona%2… Department of Economic Security</a> and the Arizona Department of Health Services.</p><separator></separator><p>Grant funding will be used to develop a data system to track the health status and needs of the Asian/Pacific Islander community and its use of health services. The Asian Pacific Community in Action, or APCA, also will develop and implement a cancer screening and prevention plan, Hirano said. &quot;One of the key components of our initiative is to build a solid understanding of the health behaviors and health care utilization patterns of the local Asian and Pacific Islander residents,&quot; he said. &quot;With its massive database, CHIR will be a key source of this information.&quot;</p><separator></separator><p>William Johnson, director of ASU&#39;s CHIR, said this effort is one of several CHIR projects examining the disparities in health care.</p><separator></separator><p>&quot;It is another example of the power of the community university-partnership that is unique to Arizona,&quot; he said.</p><separator></separator><p>Johnson said he expects to issue a full report on the health of the Valley&#39;s Asian/Pacific Islanders in the second year of the project.</p>