SAH Project & API Agencies—First meeting with Secretary Michael Leavitt at DHHS 
Washington DC - On December 18, 2006, the South Asian Health Project (SAH Project) joined a national delegate of organizations, representing Asian, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander, and South Asian communities, to meet with Secretary Michael Leavitt of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
At the meeting, Secretary Michael Leavitt of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced he would create a trans-agency workgroup to coordinate his department's various services and programs to effectively increase the visibility of, and health access for, the AAPI communities.
The meeting was the first of its kind, providing an opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (AA&NHPI) leaders to meet with Secretary of DHHS and other agency directors.
The delegate provided Secretary Leavitt and DHHS agencies a list of recommendations for concerns facing AA&NHPI communities, such as:
Access to community-based health care
Data collection: linkages between HHS and AAPI communities
Screenings and vaccinations for Hepatitis B Virus
Health literacy, including culturally and linguistically competent care
Workforce development, increasing diversity and integrating primary health, mental health and substance use
Emergency Preparedness
This AAPI delegation will continue work with Secretary Leavitt and other agencies at DHHS through the trans-agency workgroup.
Directors and representatives from several DHHS agencies participated in the meeting, including:
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
National Institute of Health
White House Initiative on AAPI
Administration on Aging
Administration of Family and Children
Office of Public Health and Science
Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Office of Civil Rights
Office of Refugee and Resettlement
Delegation of AAPI agencies included:
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
Japanese American Citizens League
National Asian American & Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
National Asian Pacific American Council on Aging
National Council of Asian Pacific American Physicians
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Alliance
Southeast Asian Resource Action Center
South Asian Public Health Association
The South Asian Health Project
South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow (SAALT) worked with SAH Project to ensure South Asian representation in the delegation of AA&NHPI and national meeting with DHHS.
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