BACKGROUND

Great progress has been made in the health status of people in Connecticut over the past three decades.With advances in technology and medical breakthroughs, people nationwide are experiencing a longer, healthier life and an overall improved quality of life. But not all people share equally in health improvements.

Members of racial and ethnic communities are more likely to report poor health status and experience higher mortality rates for many health conditions, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Access to care is often impeded because many racial and ethnic community members are inadequately insured.

To fully and equitably address vital health issues in Connecticut, the perspectives and concerns of all racial and ethnic groups must be sought and considered. Highly knowledgeable and trained citizens of Connecticut, especially those most impacted or affected by racial and ethnic health disparities, will contribute significantly by participating in policy decisions that influence health and health care. This level of participation requires core competencies in understanding public policy, public health, and cultural and linguistic competence in health care delivery, practice and procedures. It also requires an understanding of and self-efficacy to use social capital as a way of influencing others to take action.

While education, skill-building, training and life experience establish a firm foundation on which to build effective health leadership, CT Health's 2010 Health Leadership Fellows program is unique in its dedication to training diverse and multidiscipline leaders from across sectors.

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