- voiceofoc.org/healthy_communities/article_9df59398-a13f-11e0-86ac-001cc4c002e0.html
- voiceofoc.org/healthy_communities/article_4edb2642-d24f-11e0-9f2e-001cc4c03286.html
- voiceofoc.org/healthy_communities/article_b08289a4-fddc-11e0-9b1b-001cc4c002e0.html
- voiceofoc.org/healthy_communities/article_195a2458-a704-11e0-8baf-001cc4c002e0.html
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
June 28, Aug. 29, Oct. 28, July 5 (all 2011)
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
My beat is health disparities and medical issues facing the largely immigrant, (and often underserved) low-income communities of Orange County, Calif. Story summaries below: GOOD AND BAD: Hundreds of vending trucks sell junk food to low-income kids of Santa Ana, Calif., where youth obesity is rampant. But the trucks also provide fresh produce and milk in neighborhoods lacking grocery stores. DOOR TO DOOR: A unique health-care agency serving the poor in Orange County deploys promotores, that is, lay people who encourage and educate people in their own communities to undertake preventive health measures. CONFRONTING COMMON PERCEPTIONS: A local professor’s new study on medical care among immigrants in Orange County reveals that, contrary to popular perception, Latinos do not rely unduly on emergency rooms. NO-DIET APPROACH: A new clinic treats youth obesity in a city where children lack access to nutritional foods and safe open spaces.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Non-human sources include medical journals, data from health advocacy organizations and the popular press, including these: the National Policy & Legal Analysis Network to Prevent Childhood Obesity, the American Journal of Public Health, Social Science and Medicine (journal), and Time.
Explain types of human sources used.
Human sources included residents of a low-income, largely immigrant neighborhood where vending trucks are common, a city councilwoman, city attorney, anthropologist, physician and office assistants, clinic patients, health policymaker, community health workers (promotores) and residents/patients they serve, CEO of a nonprofit health organization, and a professor of public health.
Results:
The result of my reporting– on health disparities between wealthy Orange County and its largely immigrant, low-income communities– is to reveal the sometimes surprising truths that disprove or at least complicate common assumptions (ie, vending trucks are always bad, low-income immigrants always turn to ERs, etc.). Another result of my reporting is to spotlight health initiatives that prove effective in addressing disparities.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No corrections sought
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Spend time walking around neighborhoods, even when you’re not reporting a story there. Try to speak to people in their native language rather than relying on interpreters whenever possible. My Spanish is not perfect, and I sometimes turn to back-up translation assistance when necessary, but in general I conduct interviews firsthand. On that note, don’t rely too much on children to translate; it disenfranchises the parent. Finally, it helps to have doctors and community health workers as intermediaries in approaching patients with questions.