This installment of the “Take Five” series provided by The Psychology Section’s Collaborative on Racial Equity and Inclusion (REI) for Black Youth acknowledges that the month of September is not only Disease Literacy Awareness Month, but also the Awareness Month for Sickle Cell, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Childhood Cancer, Childhood Obesity, and Blood Cancer. Access to high quality health care and other health resources are essential to ensure optimal health for children with these conditions. Yet, African American and Black children with any of these diseases have lower access to health resources and as a consequence experience worse health outcomes.
We encourage you to “TAKE FIVE” and learn about the FIVE diseases and what action steps you can take to increase and promote equitable health care access and services, such as by getting involved in organizations or advocacy, or making a donation:
- Sickle Cell Awareness Month: https://www.sicklecelldisease.org/get-involved/events/national-sickle-cell-awareness-month/
- Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation: https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/
- American Childhood Cancer Organization: https://www.acco.org/childhood-cancer-awareness-month/
- Childhood Obesity Facts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: https://www.lls.org/blood-cancer-awareness