ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN HEALTH FORUM

THE ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN HEALTH FORUM (THE "HEALTH FORUM") IS A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED BY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND OTHER CONCERNED GROUPS TO PROMOTE POLICY, PROGRAM AND RESEARCH EFFORTS FOR IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND U.S. AFFILIATED JURISDICTIONS IN THE PACIFIC. THE HEALTH FORUM'S PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ARE CATEGORIZED AS FOLLOWS: AFFORDABLE CARE ACT PROGRAM - THE HEALTH FORUM PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORTS A LEARNING COMMUNITY FOR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ENGAGED IN OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE FOR EXPANDED HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS PROVIDED BY THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES GRANTS, TOOLS, SKILLS, AND TRAININGS AND DISSEMINATES BEST PRACTICES AND INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO OPTIMIZE OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND ENROLLMENT ACTIVITIES FOR ASIAN AMERICAN (AA), NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER (NHPI), LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT (LEP) AND IMMIGRANT CONSUMERS. THE PROGRAM ALSO COLLABORATES WITH NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACES TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY FOR AA AND NHPI, LEP AND IMMIGRANT CONSUMERS. HEALTH POLICY DEVELOPMENT - THE HEALTH FORUM ADVOCATES FOR HEALTH EQUITY IN HEALTH SERVICES AND ALL POLICIES; FOR GREATER ACCESS TO CARE AND INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR ALL VULNERABLE POPULATIONS; FOR ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF THE HEALTH NEEDS OF DISTINCT AND DIVERSE ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES IN HEALTH POLICY; FOR ROBUST DATA TO REVEAL DISPARITIES; AND FOR RESPONSIVE EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS MULTIPLE SECTORS, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, ACADEMIA, AND ADVOCACY. COMMUNITY INITIATIVES - THE HEALTH FORUM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, RESEARCHERS AND ADVOCATES TO NETWORK AND SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE AND RECOMMENDATIONS WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH POLICY MAKERS TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ASIAN AMERICANS, NATIVE HAWAIIANS, AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS. THE HEALTH FORUM DISSEMINATES PROMISING PRACTICES, ANALYSES, AND INFORMATION INCLUDING DATA AND RESEARCH THROUGH CONFERENCES, CONVENTIONS, AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA INCLUDING THE HEALTH FORUM'S WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PUBLICATIONS. THIS ALLOWS NETWORK PARTNERS TO UTILIZE THESE RESOURCES FOR THEIR OWN LOCAL AND STATE-BASED WORK, WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO A BODY OF KNOWLEDGE AND ACTION THAT IS ORGANIZED BY THE HEALTH FORUM AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. THESE PROGRAMS ALSO AWARD GRANTS AND PROVIDE OTHER RESOURCES TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND RESEARCHERS TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ASIAN AMERICANS, NATIVE HAWAIIANS, AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS. CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS - THE HEALTH FORUM PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING AND TOOLS TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ENHANCE THEIR CAPACITY TO SERVE AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES. IT IS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO PLAN, DELIVER, MONITOR AND EVALUATE EFFECTIVE, EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS AND STRATEGIES. THE PROGRAM ALSO WORKS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS TO DEVELOP THE INTERNAL INFRASTRUCTURE (E.G., FINANCE, HUMAN RESOURCES, GOVERNANCE) TO SUPPORT THESE INTERVENTIONS AND TO BUILD LASTING ORGANIZATIONS. CAPACITY BUILDING SERVICES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER CLIENTS, UPON DEMAND. SPECIAL PROJECTS - THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION, THE HEALTH FORUM DEVELOPS NEW BUSINESS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. THIS INCLUDES PROJECTS IN CONTRACT WITH PARTNERS, AS WELL AS HOSTING CONVENINGS AND CONFERENCES TO BRING TOGETHER COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, BUSINESS LEADERS, ACADEMICS AND RESEARCHERS, AND OTHER HEALTH ADVOCATES TO HIGHLIGHT THE HEALTH NEEDS AND DISPARITIES AMONG THE ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES.