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| National Library of Medicine HBCU eHealth Access Project |
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The UNCFSP/NLM HBCU eHealth ACCESS Project (HBCU ACCESS) promotes disease prevention and wellness on HBCU campuses and in their surrounding communities through the use of online health resources provided by the National Library of Medicine (NLM).
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Introduction
In response to the disparities in morbidity and mortality among minority groups, the UNCF Specials Programs Corporation (UNCFSP) launched a new initiative in partnership with the National Library of Medicine (NLM) in 2002 - The UNCFSP/NLM HBCU ACCESS Project. Recognizing that access-related issues and the subsequent under-utilization of health information by ethnic minorities perpetuates health disparities, UNCFSP and NLM developed the "eHealth" project to promote increased utilization of the NLM online health resources on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) campuses and in the surrounding communities. |
Background
Despite progress in the overall health of the Nation, African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities experience a disproportionate burden of undesirable health outcomes. Lending urgency to the need to address these health disparities, future population projections indicate that minority groups will comprise an increasing percentage of the overall U.S. population. Thus, improving the health status and related outcomes of minority groups is essential to the future health of the Nation as a whole. The dissemination of valuable health information to enhance literacy and protection of these at-risk groups in imperative. |
Goals
- To increase awareness, knowledge, and use of NLM health information resources
- To increase awareness and knowledge about health status and health disparities
- To increase HBCU’s ability to apply for and obtain NLM and other Federal funding for health and health-related research and intervention projects
- To incorporate NLM information resources into HBCU courses and other activities
- To increase the sustainability of ACCESS Project activities beyond the termination of UNCFSP/NLM HBCU ACCESS grants
- To improve health status towards reducing health disparities that disproportionately impact minority populations
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Sub-Grant Program
The UNCF Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSP) invites faculty and staff to HBCUs to apply for UNCFSP/NLM HBCU ACCESS Project grants. In accord with the ACCESS Project purpose, UNCFSP seeks to fund innovative and collaborative projects designed to increase awareness and use of the NLM online health resources. Given that HBCUs have a long tradition of educating the public in strategies for health promotion and disease prevention, UNCFSP recognizes the critical role that HBCUs can play in helping to improve the health status of African Americans by serving as conduits for the dissemination of online health and medical information. UNCFSP believes HBCUs have the great potential to plan, implement, and evaluate effective research-focused projects which promote the use of the Internet for improving health. |
Board Members
Dr. Melvin Spann, National Advisory Board Chair
Ms. Gladys Smiley Bell, Peabody Librarian, Harvey Librarian at Hampton University
Ms. Rose Foster, Group Manager, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
Dr. Tiffany Gary-Webb, Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Dr. Robert L. Copeland, Associate Professor, Howard University School of Medicine
Dr. Larry R. Shannon, President and CEO, Shannon and Associates, LLC
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