Welcome to our media digest for the week of August 26, 2016! Below you’ll find summaries of news coverage on the issues of preventing violence, trauma, nutrition, health equity, mental health, and more. The views expressed in these articles do not reflect those of Prevention Institute.
Community environments
Berkeley’s soda tax reduces consumption by 21% in one year
New research shows that sugary drink consumption dropped by 21% over a one-year period from before the implementation of the Berkeley soda tax to after the tax, while consumption increased in Oakland and San Francisco. The researchers surveyed 3,000 residents, focused on low-income communities and communities of color. The researchers noted that the price increase might not be the only cause of the drop in consumption, but rather “could also reflect effects of the campaign surrounding the tax, which may have shifted social norms and thus reduced consumption.”
Jim Krieger supports soda taxes as a way to prevent public health risks
Jim Krieger of Healthy Food America responded to a recent USA Today op-ed that panned soda taxes, writing “The time has come to tax sugary drinks like we tax tobacco. The analogy is powerful: As with tobacco, rock-solid evidence shows habitual use harms health. Sugary drinks are a prime culprit in rampant health problems — diabetes, obesity, and heart, dental and liver disease – that cut lives short and drive up health care costs. Tobacco taxes have reduced smoking, while raising money to make lives better. Taxing sugary drinks would do the same.”
American Beverage Association tries to rebrand soda tax as a ‘grocery tax’
Mother Jones reports on the American Beverage Association’s campaign against the proposed Oakland soda tax, including the ABA’s attempts to rebrand the tax as a “grocery tax.” Oakland City Council members have accused the ABA of misleading voters. Interviews with Berkeley store owners about how they implemented the tax on sugary drinks showed that some chose to spread the increased cost of sugary drinks across other items, but most did not.
California
Governor Brown expected to sign two climate bills this month
Grist reports on two climate bills Governor Brown is expected to sign this month: “Together, SB32 and AB197 will not only tackle the state’s greenhouse emissions but also assure greater accountability for working class communities of color that too often carry the burden of local polluting industries. SB32 creates a new target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 (below 1990 levels).” AB197 guarantees permanent legislative oversight of the California Air Resources Board, which environmental justice advocates have criticized for not focusing enough on communities most exposed to environmental hazards like refineries.
Startup incubator plans study on how basic income in Oakland affects SDOH
Startup incubator Y Combinator is planning to pilot basic income in Oakland: “We want to run a large, long-term study to answer a few key questions: how people’s happiness, well-being, and financial health are affected by basic income, as well as how people might spend their time. But before we do that, we’re going to start with a short-term pilot in Oakland. Our goal will be to prepare for the longer-term study by working on our methods — how to pay people, how to collect data, how to randomly choose a sample, etc. In our pilot, the income will be unconditional; we’re going to give it to participants for the duration of the study, no matter what. People will be able to volunteer, work, not work, move to another country — anything. We hope basic income promotes freedom, and we want to see how people experience that freedom.”
Two bills set to ease healthcare burdens for rural Californians
Two bills to ease healthcare burdens for rural California patients and providers continue to advance through the legislature, with one measure requiring Medi-Cal to cover patients’ transportation to medical appointments and the other bill allowing small rural hospitals to hire doctors directly, which supporters say could reduce health care costs and make it easier to keep physicians in areas where there are few.
Health Equity
Police, with guns drawn, chased a 10-year old black boy, claiming they mistook him for robbery suspect; neighbors shielded the boy to protect him from the pursuit
A 10-year-old black child was chased by police with their guns drawn after they mistook him for a robbery suspect. Neighbors saw the chase and prevented the cops from pursuing the 10-year-old further, yelling that they were after “a child,” and according to the New York Daily News, formed a “human shield” to prevent another shooting. A 2014 study from the American Psychological Association found that “Black boys as young as 10 may not be viewed in the same light of childhood innocence as their white peers, but are instead more likely to be mistaken as older, be perceived as guilty and face police violence if accused of a crime.” The study, in part, was based on tests given to 176 police officers, the majority of whom were white, in their mid-to-late 30s, and working in urban centers.
White man asks African American president of think tank ‘Demos’ about how to overcome his prejudices
A white man from North Carolina called into C-SPAN’s Washington Journal seeking advice from the African American guest (President of the think tank Demos) about how he could get over his fear and prejudices.
New documentary series highlights epidemic of police killings of black men
Filmmakers released a short documentary highlighting the painful reality that Philando Castile's friends and community have had to face since his death at the hands of a police officer. The film is part of a series that illustrates the epidemic of police killings of black men. In addition, seven Chicago police officers involved in the death of Laquan McDonald could be terminated for making false reports and covering up the police shooting of the 17-year-old boy that was caught on video.
British children who turn 3 by Sept 1st are guaranteed free preschool
Any child in Britain who has turned three by September 1st is guaranteed 15 hours a week of free preschool for 38 weeks a year. The article contrasts the success of Britain's decision against the failures of child care in the US. Experts argue that universal access to early education helps support healthy development, eliminate stigma and close the equity gap.
DOJ phases out private prisons; argues that incarcerating the indigent is unconstitutional
As the Department of Justice phases out private prisons, many question whether ICE will follow suit. ThinkProgress notes that the DOJ’s decision won’t impact the bulk of federal private prisons because most are contracted by the Department of Homeland Security, which relies heavily on private prisons to hold immigrants-- usually in unconstitutional and inhumane conditions. As of last year, 62 percent of immigration detention beds were operated by private corporations, far more than the share of federal prisoners held in private prisons. The DOJ also made news last week when it argued that incarcerating the indigent for being unable to meet bail is unconstitutional – the first time the DOJ has ever made that case to an appeals court.
5 States sue to block healthcare rules preventing discrimination against transgendered people
Five states —led by Texas—are suing to block a new rule in the ACA that’s meant to prevent healthcare providers and insurers from discriminating against transgender people. Earlier this week, a notoriously anti-LGBTQ judge in Texas decided to block the Obama administration's efforts to protect transgender kids -- just in time for the beginning of school. For the first time, a court opened the door to anti-LGBTQ discrimination through religious freedom law in Michigan. Meanwhile, a transgender inmate is suing the Missouri Department of Corrections over a policy that prevents her from receiving hormone therapy.
Media does not cover disproportionate effects of Zika on low-income populations
This CBS News story completely ignores the equity implications of Zika, encapsulated by this passage: “Katrina Barnard lives outside both zones, but the South Florida mother of two, who’s expecting her third child, has all but quarantined herself and her family. “I’m having my groceries delivered, having my nails done in my house, having my hair done in my house,” she told Begnaud. “I think my baby’s life is more important than my comfort right now.”
Institutional responses vary as Zika situation worsens
In two heavily touristed areas in Miami-Dade County, Florida – the Wynwood neighborhood and South Beach – are home to at least 37 locally transmitted Zika cases (and counting). There are now 69 pregnant women (and counting) in Florida who have been infected. The National Institutes of Health’s Anthony Fauci warned that Texas and Louisiana could be next for Zika, and the situation is likely to get worse soon. Dallas County will immediately begin dropping pesticides from the skies to kill mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus if local infections surface, local health officials announced. Dallas County has confirmed 28 Zika infections, but so far all are travel related. A study of brain scans and ultrasound pictures of 45 Brazilian babies whose mothers were infected with Zika in pregnancy shows that the virus can inflict serious damage to many different parts of the fetal brain beyond microcephaly. Meanwhile, Rep. Rosa DeLauro became the latest Democrat to call on Congress to reconvene immediately and pass an emergency funding package, stating "The Zika virus is not only here, it is leaving lifelong, serious consequences for hundreds of children and their families… Speaker Ryan, bring this House back in session now."
New book, The Health Gap, examines how inequities affect health outcomes
This Counterpunch article by an epidemiologist at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reviews a new book called the The Health Gap, which lays out how inequities lead to divergent health outcomes. The book argues that socioeconomic factors are “the cause of causes,” and nconcludes that “tackling disempowerment is crucial for improving health and improving health equity.”
US ranks 34 out of 35 on survey on wellbeing of children in developed countries
A recent UNICEF report found that the United States ranked 34th on a list of 35 developed countries surveyed on the wellbeing of children. Children under the age of 18 are the most impoverished age group, and African-American children are four times more likely than white children to be in poverty. This article explores the historic role of racist U.S. welfare and economic policies in perpetuating this disparity. (via BMSG)
Why have disabled populations been left out of recent ‘pride’ movements?
In this New York Times series by and about people living with disabilities, the author discusses why disability has been left behind in the recent "pride" movements, such as those around race and sexuality. The author notes that though disabled people are the largest minority group in the US, they are not conceptualized as having a shared social identity and political status.
Study finds that suggesting a person is ‘less’ black alters beauty perceptions
A new study finds that the very suggestion that a person is “less” black can alter ideas about beauty, increasing the chance that an African American will be perceived as attractive. In study after study, white people rate lighter-skinned blacks and Latinos as more intelligent, competent and hireable than their darker-skinned peers. Studies show perceived attractiveness increases job prospects, bolsters salaries and just generally increases chances of success in life. Perceived “blackness”—even in name—can close doors of opportunity.
Violence Prevention and Unintentional Injury
Victims of domestic violence fear social stigma attached to speaking out
This Alternet piece explores the social stigma and culture of disbelief many domestic violence survivors are subjected to by the media. According to the CDC, 20 people are abused by an intimate partner every minute in the U.S., and many decline to take their assailant to court. Berkeley Media Studies Group notes, “The media's treatment of domestic violence only reinforces the fear among victims that even when they do speak out, their voices will not be respected.”
¼ of US women are victims of domestic violence, often left with brain damage
According to the CDC, about one-quarter of U.S. women have experienced severe physical assaults by a partner in their lifetime, with injuries from domestic abuse resulting in brain damage in 60% of survivors, including Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease previously linked to football injuries and concussions. Traumatic brain injuries can result from a single blow to the head, and symptoms may be short-term or long-lasting. Many physician groups are recommending doctors screen women for domestic violence, as survivors often don't seek immediate medical attention for fear of disclosing the cause of their injuries.
One of three full-service family planning clinics in WI closes
One of only three full-service family planning clinics in the state of Wisconsin closed its doors this week – not due to new abortion restrictions, but because the clinic was unable to meet Planned Parenthood’s new requirements for patient and provider security in the wake of the Colorado Springs mass shooting at a clinic.
August 27- CBO’s and HR groups to launch 72 days of action to end gun violence
On August 27, a coalition of community and human rights groups will launch 72 days of direct action to end gun violence. Actions will include marching, rallying, letter writing and more in Washington D.C. and across the nation. This article stresses the need to approach gun violence from a public health perspective and the responsibility of different public health organizations in pushing to bring gun violence to the forefront of policy agendas. (via BMSG)
Health Systems Transformation
Successes and challenges of the Affordable Care Act
In Affordable Care Act (ACA) news, U.S. residents who obtained health insurance under the ACA filled more prescriptions and paid less for their drugs than they did before gaining the coverage, according to a study in Health Affairs. PBS reports on new research that has found that the extension of Medicaid eligibility under the ACA has not only shielded low-income Americans from out-of-pocket medical costs, but has also improved their overall financial health. The researchers note that uninsured individuals who need hospital care can experience reduced access to credit and elevated bankruptcy risk, along with unpaid medical bills. Medicaid expansions ‘significantly reduced the number of unpaid non-medical bills and the amount of non-medical debt sent to third-party collection agencies.’” A Commonwealth Fund report found that low-income and Latino individuals are among the U.S. residents most likely to still be uninsured six years after the ACA passage. And, progressive economist Dean Baker suggests Democrats better start talking about how to fix problems arising with the ACA, namely a lack of competition in the exchanges, and the increasing numbers of sicker patients enrolling in them. He suggests two solutions: a public option and requiring private insurance companies to enter the exchanges