Paula J. Carter Center on Minority Health and Aging Location: Jefferson City, Missouri Objective: Background information/Rationale: During the past 20 years, a vast increase of a multicultural society emerged whose needs and concerns are different. To address the problem, the Lincoln University Cooperative Extension/Paula J. Carter Center on Minority Health and Aging was developed to provide leadership in the health, social, and psychological needs of Missouri’s minority, disabled individuals, and elderly populations. The overall project goal is to improve the quality of life of older minority and underserved Missourians. A) To disseminate culturally appropriate health care information that will empower the minority populations to put into practice knowledge they have acquired. B) Identify barriers that hinder access, availability and acceptability to health care and attempts to address these issues C) Provide diversity training, health education and resource information through conferences, workshops, and collaborations with other groups. Summary: Missouri Institute on Minority Aging [MIMA]: The PJCCMHA Advisory Board/MIMA Planning committee and the LUCE/Paula J. Carter Center on Minority Health and Aging met quarterly to plan the 2004 Missouri Institute on Minority Aging, held May 18, 2004 on the campus of Lincoln University. The theme of the 2004 Institute was “Aging Well, Living Well.” In the past the target population invited to participate in the Institute are professionals involved in aging and health, academicians, students and consumers. However, the 2004 Institute was consumer-directed and celebrated Older Americans Month by allowing seniors 60+ to attend at no cost. Over 100 consumers were encouraged to put into practice healthy behaviors that were discussed at the following workshops: (1) Nutrition for Seniors - What is the Latest Information?, (2) You can make a Difference in Your Diabetes Treatment - What are the Choices?, (3) The Aging Mouth - A Catastrophic Situation!, (4) Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act 2003, (5) Disparity in Treating Chronic Pain in Minority and Elderly Populations, and (6) The Values of Diverse Contributions of all Racial/Ethnic Groups. Resources on healthy lifestyle were disseminated by fifteen exhibitors and LUCE/PJCCMHA. Governor’s Commission on Special Health, Psychological, and Social Needs of Minority Older Individuals: The Governor’s Commission on Special Health, Psychological and Social Needs of Minority Older Individuals’ purpose is to provide leadership in addressing the needs, barriers and public policies that affect minority older adults in Missouri and they do this by making recommendations of their findings to the Governor. The Lincoln University Cooperative Extension/Paula J. Carter Center on Minority Health and Aging works in conjunction with the Commission by providing support to their efforts. PJCCMHA Advisory Board: The Advisory Board for the Paula J. Carter Center on Minority Health and Aging meets quarterly. The purpose of the PJCCMHA Advisory Board is to assist the center by determining annual issues and priorities base on community feedback. The members represent agencies involved in health and aging issues, in addition to those consumers who are interested. Grants: The center produces and disseminates quarterly newsletters “Healthy Aging” and the “Elderly Expression,” fact sheets, various information on health issues and chronic diseases etc. to disseminate at health fairs, conferences, and health education classes. The Missouri Foundation for Health, funded a grant to improve access to healthcare for Missouri’s underinsured, uninsured minority and other disadvantaged older adults. The newsletter entitled “Elderly Expression” brings the latest health information. Community Outreach Workers in St. Louis City and Pemiscot County have established outreach bases in their areas. Each worker has recruited contacts with various agencies and individuals to participate in the program. An outreach base for Cole, Callaway and Moniteau has begun to recruit participants. Community Outreach Workers work with program participants to help them gain skills to put into practice a lifestyle that will improve their quality of life. Program activities include nutrition, small group health education issues, video presentations and health screenings. Collaborations with other Agencies: Missouri Arthritis Resource Training and Planning Committee: PJCCMHA critiqued a training module on, "How to Live with Arthritis,"  to fit the needs of older adults and the minority population, also provided information on how to utilize the Lt. Gov. list-serve.  Arthritis Research and Evaluation Program Member on Task Force to exchange ideas to include minorities in all phases of managing arthritis. Office of Women’s Health The Paula J. Carter Center was involved with the Office of Women's Health Council in the development of a strategic plan entitled, "Setting a New Direction." The center also reviewed responses from a previous women's health meeting called, "Putting into Practice: What We Know about Health and Aging," to ascertain how attendees put into operations information they acquired at the meeting. Staff members attends quarterly meeting. Help develop strategic plan to include elderly and minorities in activities. National Cancer Foundation Staff member talk with Regional Director of Cancer Society about working together on projects to assist minority women in practicing what is known about prevention and management. PJCCMHA established a relationship between the national and local cancer officials. The center received a small stipend from the federal office to assist with funding the 2004 Missouri Institute on Minority Aging. The foundation also provided per e-mail, health literature regarding cancer issues and concerns relative to older and minority populations. Center for Health Policy - University of Missouri - Columbia Discussed with the chair of the Committee - a proposal seeking funds to develop a project on health insurance accessibility, affordability and acceptability for the minority population. Health Policy Summit prepared for the legislators recommendations based on the aforementioned above concerns.   Lt. Governor's Office - Aging Advocate PJCCMHA members continue to work with the Lt. Governor’s Office as advocates on minorities and underserved populations. We are part of the Lt. Governor’s e-mail list-serve operations. University of Missouri - Columbia / Department of Health Psychology and Health Research: PJCCMHA is in the discussion stages of working together to identify interested minority students on "How to Develop Skills in Minority Health Research." The emphasis will be the anatomy of disparities. The Missouri Health Consortium (Missouri’s Show Me Healthy Women Program): Information was provided to the center on the latest legislative cancer improvements. This information was provided to our statewide network. University of Missouri School of Health Professions: We provide information relative to the inclusion of older people and minorities in their training programs. An attends their health seminars. Impact: The targeted population, private and public agencies have become aware of the Center’s existence. They refer to us for advisement, technical assistance and program development. The center has grown in stature as a result of collaborations with other public and private entities. The center looks forward assisting with the improvement in the quality of health and life through the concept of health management for all groups, in particularly minorities, underserved, disabled and elderly populations. For More Information, Contact: Treaka Young, Coordinator - Paula J. Carter Center on Minority Health and Aging (PJCCMHA) Lincoln University Cooperative Extension Paula J. Carter Center on Minority Health and Aging 215 Allen Hall / 900 Chestnut St. Jefferson City, MO  65102-0029 Phone: (573) 681-5530 Fax: (573) 681-5546 E-Mail:  Treaka Young  youngt@lincolnu.edu