UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP)<\/strong><\/a> has successfully utilized intramural Ideas Labs to tackle wicked health problems (e.g., opioid-related deaths in CT) and has engaged experts in behavioral, social, biomedical, and environmental sciences; engineering and mathematics; policy and law; business; education; and the arts and humanities.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProposal Guidelines for Ideas Lab Teams\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n <\/p>\r\n Boys and men of color have tremendous potential to contribute to the economic vitality of our nation and world. However, this potential is being hemorrhaged by gendered health inequities. Data across time affirm that boys and men of color have some of the most disparate health outcomes due in large measure to social determinants, broader social factors operating where they live, play, pray, get educated, and receive healthcare. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US, black men disproportionately died an average of 4.2 years younger than non-Hispanic White males and 9.2 younger than non-Hispanic White women[i]<\/a>. Alarmingly, Black males who live the shortest lives of all individuals in US society have lost 3 years of life expectancy as the result of COVID-19[ii]<\/a>. According to the UConn HDI’s<\/a> inaugural Report Card on Health Equity among Boys and Men of Color in CT<\/a>, in 2014 boys of color made up 36 percent of boys in Connecticut at age five, but only 15 percent of men by age 55[iii]<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n Behavioral health disparities are also pronounced among boys and men of color. Despite having lower rates of diagnosed depression, boys and men have the highest rates of suicide completion. Such rates are highest in American Indian and Alaska Native men.[iv]<\/a> Among men in CT, a greater proportion of Hispanic\/Latino men report depression than other racial\/ethnic groups.[v]<\/a> Nationally, Hispanic\/Latino children and adolescents bear significant risk for behavioral health concerns.[vi]<\/a> As a compounding factor, Black and Latino populations experience glaring disparities in access to healthcare and behavioral health treatment in particular.[vii]<\/a> The prevalence of substance abuse-related mortality is also highest in males with boys and men of color suffering the most detrimental social consequences of abuse and addiction (e.g., incarceration). Negative behavioral health outcomes in boys and men of color are partly attributable to undetected and undertreated trauma stemming from dehumanization, forced migration, anti-immigration sentiment, and persistent racism. Such social exposures over the life-course place men can also catalyze other risk-taking behaviors (e.g., sexual) that generate health disparities for boys and men of color. While rates of HIV infections have diminished since the mid-1980\u2019s, boys and men of color across the sexual gender orientation and gender identity spectrum shoulder the highest disease burden.[viii]<\/a>[ix]<\/a><\/p>\r\n [i]<\/a> National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2019: Table 4. Hyattsville, MD. 2021. Available from: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/hus\/contents2019.htm<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [ii]<\/a> Arias, E., Tejada-Vera, B., & Ahmad, F. Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for January through June, 2020. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System. February 2021 (Report No. 010). Retrieved from https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/data\/vsrr\/VSRR10-508.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [iii]<\/a> UConn Health Disparities Institute. (2018, October). The CT Report Card on Health Equity Among Boys And Men Of Color (BMoC) in CT. Retrieved from https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/health-disparities\/<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [iv]<\/a> Leavitt RA, Ertl A, Sheats K, Petrosky E, Ivey-Stephenson A, Fowler KA. Suicides Among American Indian\/Alaska Natives \u2014 National Violent Death Reporting System, 18 States, 2003\u20132014<\/a>. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:237\u2013242.\u00a0CDC.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [v]<\/a> UConn Health Disparities Institute. (2018, October). The CT Report Card on Health Equity Among Boys And Men Of Color (BMoC) in CT. Retrieved from https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/health-disparities\/<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [vi]<\/a> American Psychological Association. Mental Health Disparities:\u00a0 Hispanics and Latinos<\/a>. 2017.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [vii]<\/a> SAMHSA. Double Jeopardy: COVID-19 and Behavioral Health Disparities for Black and Latino Communities in the U.S<\/a>. 2020.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [viii]<\/a> CDC.\u00a0Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2018 (updated)<\/a>.\u00a0HIV Surveillance Report<\/em>\u00a02020;31.<\/p>\r\n <\/a><\/p>\r\n\t\t\tWhat do we know?<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\r\n\t\t Health disparities are preventable, biological health outcomes that are impacted by social, environmental, and behavioral processes and forces that are rooted in existing and historic forms of social inequality. For example, people living in poverty often lack access to healthy food, places to safely exercise, and consistent access to healthcare which together can result in chronic health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.[i]<\/a> For Black boys and men in the US, health outcomes mirror some of the issues related to poverty but supersede them via the compounded and pernicious consequences of discrimination and the entrenched implications of institutional racism on systems.[ii]<\/a> [iii]<\/a> [iv]<\/a><\/p>\r\n [i]<\/a> Williams DR, Yu Y, Jackson JS, Anderson NB. Racial Differences in Physical and Mental Health: Socioeconomic Status, Stress, and Discrimination. Journal of Health Psychology<\/em>. 1997;2 (335-351).<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [ii]<\/a> Allen JO, Watkins DC, Chatters L, Geronimus AT, Johnson-Lawrence V. Cortisol and Racial Health Disparities Affecting Black Men in Later Life: Evidence From MIDUS II. Am J Mens Health<\/em>. 2019;13(4):1557988319870969. doi:10.1177\/1557988319870969<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [iii]<\/a> Paradies, Yin, Ben, Jehonathan, Denson, Nida, et al. Racism as a Determinant of Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PloS one. 2015;10(9):e0138511-e0138511. doi:10.1371\/journal.pone.0138511<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [iv]<\/a> Forde AT, Crookes DM, Suglia SF, Demmer RT. The weathering hypothesis as an explanation for racial disparities in health: a systematic review. Annals of Epidemiology<\/em>. 2019;33. doi:10.1016\/j.annepidem.2019.02.011.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n\t\t\tTo give a grander scope of this issue, below are examples of some of the health disparities uniquely faced by boys and men of color in the US: <\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\r\n\t\t [i]<\/a> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2021.\u00a0African American Health<\/em>. [online] Available at: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vitalsigns\/aahealth\/index.html<\/a> [Accessed 4 March 2021].<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [ii]<\/a> Alexander,M. (2010). The New Jim Crow : Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. New York : [Jackson, Tenn.] :New Press ; Distributed by Perseus Distribution.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [iii]<\/a> Massoglia, Michael, Pridemore, William Alex. Incarceration and Health. Annual review of sociology<\/em>. 2015;41(1):291-310. doi:10.1146\/annurev-soc-073014-112326a<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [iv]<\/a> UConn Health Disparities Institute. (2018, October). The CT Report Card on Health Equity Among Boys And Men Of Color (BMoC) in CT. Retrieved from https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/health-disparities\/<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [v]<\/a> Silver E, Teasdale B. Mental Disorder and Violence: An Examination of Stressful Life Events and Social Support. Social Problems. 2005; 52 (62-78).<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [vi]<\/a> Forde AT, Crookes DM, Suglia SF, Demmer RT. The weathering hypothesis as an explanation for racial disparities in health: a systematic review. Annals of Epidemiology<\/em>. 2019;33. doi:10.1016\/j.annepidem.2019.02.011.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [vii]<\/a> CDC.\u00a0Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2018 (updated)<\/a>.\u00a0HIV Surveillance Report<\/em>\u00a02020;31.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n\t\t\tWhat are the outcomes of these health disparities? <\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\r\n\t\t Beyond the intrinsic value of the individual lives of boys and men of color (BMoC), much is lost by their absence<\/strong>. The economic impacts of health disparities in boys and men are significant. For example, it is estimated that from 2003 to 2006 the combined costs of health inequities and premature deaths in the United States totaled $1.24 trillion and that elimination of health disparities among racial\/ethnic minorities would have reduced these costs, including direct medical care, by $229.4 billion. [i]<\/a> Also, data indicate that males in their prime working years are disappearing from the labor force largely because of behavioral health conditions[ii]<\/a>. Sadly, it is often women and girls that bridge the gaps created when BMoC perish before they have an opportunity to reach their fullest potential. Left unresolved, health disparities in BMoC will undermine our efforts to build resilient families, communities, and democracies.<\/p>\r\n [i]<\/a> Achieving Health Equity in the United States. AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION. https:\/\/www.apha.org\/policies-and-advocacy\/public-health-policy-statements\/policy-database\/2019\/01\/29\/achieving-health-equity. Published November 13, 2018. Accessed March 3, 2021.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [ii]<\/a> UConn Health Disparities Institute. (2018, October). The CT Report Card on Health Equity Among Boys And Men Of Color (BMoC) in CT. Retrieved from https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/health-disparities\/<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\tWhat do we want to do with the Ideas Lab?<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\r\n\t\t The disappearance of BMoC from across our nation is unconscionable and preventable. We must unite in collective action to advance health equity among boys and men of color \u2013 now, more than ever. Achieving health equity would mean that that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be their healthiest, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, income, sexual orientation, where you live, or other social conditions that influence health outcomes.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\tWe seek to identify multi-sector research, practice, and\/or policy-based innovations that will transform systems for radical healing and health equity among boys and men of color. <\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\r\n\t\t Our focus is on behavioral health, trauma, incarceration and justice, and HIV\/AIDS. What would equitable systems where boys and men of color thrive look like? How can we get there using research, practice, and\/or policy innovation and harnessing the collective creative energy of a multi-sector, multi-disciplinary team?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t\tKey Dates\r\n\t<\/h3>\r\n\t
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n\t\tIdeas Lab Mentors\r\n\t<\/h3>\r\n\tDr. Stephanie Cook<\/a>
\r\nDr. Kimberly Dodge<\/a>
\r\nMs. Tiffany Donelson<\/a>
\r\nDr. Dustin Duncan<\/a>
\r\nDr. Rick Gibbons<\/a>
\r\nDr. Sean Joe<\/a>
\r\nMr. Jayson Jones<\/a>
\r\nDr. Daphne Watkins<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\tStages of Ideas Labs\r\n\t<\/h3>\r\n\tStage 1: Questions Emerge (June 11)<\/strong>– Participants begin by independently brainstorming questions and ideas related to the event’s theme (in this case, they will work within the subthemes of the event). Participants will post these questions to a shared virtual board with sticky notes. Participants will take these sticky notes and cluster them together (based on how similar or interrelated they are). Participants and organizers will work together to develop topics\/questions that summarize these clustered ideas and questions.\u00a0
\r\n
\r\nStage 2: Team Formation (June 11 and beyond)\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Organizers will read aloud clustered questions around which groups will form based on their interests. Teams will then work together to build a consensus over 1) what specific question they will address and 2) what solution they are proposing. This process will continue forward after June 11. Teams may work towards research-based projects, policy solutions, or community-based program development.\u00a0
\r\n
\r\nStage 3: Proposal Development<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0& Funding (Proposals due in August)<\/strong>\u2013 Throughout the summer, teams will develop a concise vision for their project and ultimately may submit a proposal for funding through the Ideas Lab. Working with sponsors and content area experts, the Ideas Lab planning committee leadership will make decisions about proposal funding in August 2021.\r\n\t\t\tProblem Statement<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\r\n\t\t\r\n
\r\n\t\tAnnouncements and Press Releases\r\n\t<\/h3>\r\n\t