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365 Days of Minority Health Advocacy

Are you looking for ways to make minority health issues and the importance of culturally competent care a more visible presence in your nursing workplace? Try taking that Snoopy or Garfield calendar off your wall and hanging up a 2003 Advocacy Calendar instead.

The Advocacy Calendar is produced each year by the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU), a nonprofit, interdisciplinary organization of health care professionals committed to improving access to high quality medical, behavioral and oral health care for the nation’s underserved communities. Designed to highlight issues relevant to medically underserved populations and remind health professionals of the goals of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2010 initiative, the attractive 12-month wall calendar is a great way to increase your colleagues’ awareness and keep yourself inspired 365 days a year.

Each month, the calendar features a different health issue--such as breast cancer awareness or diabetes management--accompanied by a relevant photo, information about the topic, health disparity statistics and inspirational quotes. It also cites the specific Healthy People 2010 objectives pertaining to that issue, along with a suggested call to action for clinicians. In addition, the calendar lists important health-related events throughout the year, including Health Literacy Month, National Men’s Health Week and National Depression Screening Day.

Copies of the 2003 Advocacy Calendar can be purchased for $12 each ($10 for ACU members), with proceeds helping to support the ACU’s mission. Bulk purchase rates are also available. To order, or to receive information about becoming a member, contact the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved by phone (703-442-5318) or fax (703-749-5348). The ACU Web site is located at www.clinicians.org.