Copy of Who We Are

WHO WE ARE

IDENTITY STATEMENT:

AARTH exists to address health disparities and inequities in healthcare services for people of African descent. We are a nonprofit organization that:

creates and sustains partnerships to promote healthy outcomes,
educates and empowers healthcare professionals, communities, and individuals to eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity.
works to advance racial equity and social justice
responds with efficiency and timeliness to health care crises that impact our communities

mission:

AARTH’S MISSION IS to promote positive health outcomes and address inequities in healthcare for people of African descent. We address health disparities and inequities in healthcare services for people of African descent by:

Creating and sustaining partnerships to promote healthy outcomes,
Educating and empowering healthcare professionals, communities and individuals to eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity,
Working to advance racial equity and social justice, and
Responding with efficiency and timeliness to health care crises that impact Black and other marginalized communities.

VISION:

IN OUR VISION WE SEE African American (Black Descendants of Enslaved Africans) and African born people living healthier and longer lives supported by thriving self-sustaining and culturally centered community-based health networks. We see adults and youth making informed decisions about their health and sexual practices. We see individuals using their abilities to serve each other and participate in legislative processes that determine health care policies and funding.

Our goals:

Increase the awareness and knowledge about health issues that disproportionately affect people of the African diaspora.
Promote self-affirming health practices
Strengthen the infrastructure of faith ministries and health organizations to provide culturally appropriate services.

WE VALUE:

AARTH Ministry was established to support the faith community by providing health and wellness services that strengthen and edify the body of Christ and people in general. The scope of our services for building capacity through education, access to resources, self-advocacy and compassionate service are governed by faith-centered principles and behaviors. Our values are based on the Biblical principles of agape love, peace, compassion, integrity, power, wisdom, communication, and wholeness.

We value health education and practices that empower African Americans to make wise decisions for maintaining physical and spiritual wellness. (3 John 1:2)

Our approach to addressing issues is based on what is ethical and just, which may or may not align with traditional middle/moderate, liberal or conservative views.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

AARTH recognizes that in health care, not everyone has the same chance of success. Some populations need certain advantages to succeed, due to historical systemic disenfranchisement. The work that AARTH embarks on tackles the questions of equity and social justice; working with organizations and health serving medical institutions to answer the questions of who the system does not work for, due to institutional and structural racism, and how can those barriers be removed through systems restructuring and individual intentional change.

AARTH approaches health equity and social justice work through an Afrocentric lens and works to approach issues from a holistic standpoint; assessing the whole person, which considers all factors that contribute to health inequities. Our Health Equity and Social Justice guidelines seeks to advance the capacity of local health institutions and nonprofit organizations to confront the root causes of inequity in care by evaluating their organizational culture, practices, and structure.

Our partnerships allow us to explore the root causes of why African Americans and other marginalized populations bear a disproportionate burden of disease and mortality. The training and capacity building we provide, allows institutions and their staff to understand how power structures and institutions generate inequitable treatment and care. We work collaboratively to design and inform strategies and policy that address inequitable practices. and outcomes. We understand that unequal distribution of money, power, and resources among communities of color contributes to health inequities and we work to reshape the practices that prevent equal access for equal opportunity.

Education cultivates better understanding and a desire to transform.
- We strive to deliver the facts about health issues by presenting information in ways that are culturally relevant and respectful. This requires being aware of our audience’s social-cultural norms and tailoring the information we present to fit the audience and allowing them to interpret based on their values and beliefs.
Access to resources increases the awareness and ability of people to receive needed services.
- We work through collaborations, partnerships, and referrals to link individuals to health and faith services that appropriately address the needs of the whole person.
Self-Advocacy empowers people to take responsibility for their own health by being part of the decision making process.
- We promote involvement and ownership in care, treatment, and prevention to improve one’s health and in the legislative and funding process for better services and resources.
Compassionate service creates opportunities for action and reconciliation.
- Our values, vision, mission, and work ethics demonstrate and promote non-judgmental attitudes and the establishment of safe spaces for healthy dialogue.