PAD 500 Foundations of Public Administration

The programs and services provided by the Center for Closing the Health Gap are very timely and very important. The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted long-standing health inequities in the United States. While this is the first time that some Americans have known about these inequities, the Center has been focused on eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities in Greater Cincinnati since 2014. The commitment is that zip code and race should not be determining factors in health outcomes. Its grassroots and advocacy approach is grounded in the principle that those most affected by the health disparities should be empowered to lead the movement. Staff and volunteers at the Center have been working to get everyone the same access to quality health care and to create a culture of health in our region, which is more important than ever.

- Julie Muehlenkamp, PAD 500 Student

 
It is apparent that the U.S. criminal justice system disproportionately affects certain populations, particularly Black citizens. The Black imprisonment rate at the end of 2018 was nearly twice the rate among Hispanics and more than five times the rate among Whites. To put this into perspective: Black Americans represented 33% of the sentenced prison population, compared to their 12% of the U.S. adult population. The rate was even higher among Black men in certain age groups: Among those ages 35 to 39, for example, about 1 out of every 20 were in state or federal prison. The Ohio Justice & Policy Center (OJPC) programs and activities provide opportunities for those excessively affected by systemic racism and trapped in the cyclical prison system.

Upon learning about the organization, I contacted their staff to ask how I could volunteer with the organization. The team was overjoyed with my inquiry, offering many opportunities to get involved. I look forward to supporting their mission.

- Nick Bliven, PAD 500 Student

The Health Gap's mission is to eliminate health disparities through education, advocacy, and outreach in order to make Cincinnati a healthier region for all. Staff and volunteers engage and empower African Americans, Latinos, and white Appalachians to live healthier lives by developing solutions through Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR). They also initiate solutions at the policy level and collaborate with health care organizations to develop and implement evidence-based interventions and innovative programs to deliver our mission. The success of this model relies on its grassroots fundamentals to promote a culture of health.

Remarks from Renee Mahaffey Harris, President & CEO: "We are grateful for the $1,000 grant that will enable us to provide vaccine education information sessions and videos to residents in throughout the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County! Thank you for making this possible."

http://closingthehealthgap.org/

OJPC is a nonprofit law office with offices in Cincinnati and Columbus that provides free, high-quality legal assistance to Ohioans, and advocates for client-centered policy changes at the Ohio Statehouse. Supported by grants and charitable donations, OJPC offers a spectrum of free legal services, programs, and resources for people in Ohio as they navigate the complex, overly punitive, and often extraordinarily expensive criminal justice system.

Remarks from Sarah Estes, Development Director: "OJPC is thrilled to receive support from NKU’s Mayerson Student Philanthropy Project. We will use this grant to further the work of Beyond Guilt, a project that works for the release of over-sentenced and over-punished incarcerated people who have done the hard work of rehabilitation and are ready to come home. Tyra Patterson, an OJPC staff member who was herself incarcerated for over 20 years, helps ease the transition for many clients upon their release, helping them with such things as obtaining an ID and helping them acclimate after incarceration."

http://ohiojpc.org/