RHD to Use "Unnatural Causes" Series as Vehicle

Members of the audience listen during the discussion March 24 in Richmond.

Though the "Unnatural Causes - Is Inequality Making Us Sick?" Public Broadcasting System (PBS) series is over, we continue to use the momentum generated by the documentary in our ongoing work to reduce health disparities in Contra Costa.

Supervisor John Gioia and CCHS staff kicked off the PBS program with a sneak preview of the segment about Richmond, "Place Matters," on March 24 at the RYSE Youth Center in Richmond. About 60 community members attended the standing-room-only event, which also included a group discussion about the show. The event attracted considerable media attention.

The seven-part series ran March 27 through April 17 and started a national dialogue about the root causes of disparities and how they can be reduced.

The documentary provided an important opportunity for CCHS, said RHD Manager Concepcion James.

"We can use the documentary as a vehicle to involve the community in our work to reduce health disparities and to showcase information about CCHS' RHD efforts with other organizations," Concepcion said.

CCHS is staffing three regional groups (representing West, East and Central Contra Costa County) that are planning events for elected offi cials, community leaders, policy makers and other stakeholders to discuss local health disparities, spotlight efforts underway to reduce those disparities and start developing a local agenda to reduce and eliminate those disparities.

For more information about the upcoming meetings, the "Unnatural Causes" series and RHD, visit iSITE or our public website cchealth.org, or contact our Reducing Health Disparities Manager Concepcion James at cjames@hsd.cccounty.us or 925-957-5421.

Content provided by the Reducing Health Disparities Initiative of Contra Costa Public Health Division.