crossposted from unbossed
Lest you think that NIOSH is not on board with faith-based initiatives and the role faith can play in health, O! Ye of Little Faith!, think again.
Protecting Insurance Companies on the Backs of the Poor
So, what are you going to do in a society whose president is ready to veto legislation that will cut access to Medicare healthcare just so he can shore up private insurance companies? And will deny health care to children living in poverty just so he can shore up private insurance companies? link and link and link and link and link
Well, I guess you have to turn to faith-based programs. They exist across the federal government. For example, in the CDC, we have this NIOSH program - A Faith - Based Stress Interventions for African Americans
The goals of this project are to: (1) Design a culturally tailored occupational stress intervention for working African Americans in partnership with a local faith-based organization (FBO) and to (2) Test the intervention with members of the target audience to evaluate the extent to which it improves OSH knowledge, impacts behavioral intentions, and increases efficacy in preventing and/or managing work-related stress.
In Phase 1 of the project (FY06), NIOSH is designing a culturally innovative occupational stress intervention for working African Americans in partnership with a local faith-based organization (FBO) in consultation with the University of Cincinnati experts. In Phase 2 (FY07), the FBO will deliver and test the intervention with members of the target audience to evaluate the extent to which the intervention improves OSH knowledge, impacts behavioral intentions and increases efficacy in managing work-related stress. Participants are expected to report pre- to post-intervention gains in OSH knowledge, in behavioral intentions related to use of new knowledge and skills, and perceptions in efficacy to address work-related stress.
This 2-year pilot project brings together NIOSH and University of Cincinnati researchers and members of an FBO to develop and test a culturally tailored occupational stress intervention. Formal expertise in stress management and African American health together with the FBO’s local knowledge of the cultural communication, beliefs, preferences, and understandings of its community will ensure that such a product is successfully developed and tested. Further, the project will generate an effective partnership model for working collaboratively with FBOs, an identification of effective strategies for reaching African American workers, and strengthened FBO capacity to provide OSH or other health interventions to its community.
A few years back, unbossed took a look at faith-based programs at the Department of Labor and while trawling through its pages found this keeper - Not Everyone has a Burning Bush to Tell Them Their Life's Calling. I guess now we understand why the DOL has been so successful at protecting US workers' working conditions. A living wage? Who needs it when you have faith. Safe working conditions? Who needs it when you have faith?
And if you want to take a look at government faith-based programs take a look at the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy and its Digest of Federal Grants with Faith-Based and Community Organization Eligibility.
Now if you think I'm being harsh on the DOL, its sister agency just announced it was sacking an effective administrator, one who has the support of all Workplace Health and Safety constituencies. NIOSH's CDC Director Julie Gerberding announced last week that she would not reappoint NIOSH Director John Howard despite his interest in a second term and widespread support. link
That blog report includes a letter of support from Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-14)
We are appalled by your decision to fire Dr. Howard, demand that you explain your decision, and urge you to reappoint him immediately.
As 9/11 Health Coordinator, Dr. Howard oversees the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment program, which provides federally-funded health care for 9/11 first responders and others exposed to Ground Zero toxins. Dr. Howard has received accolades for his outstanding work on behalf of the heroes of 9/11.
Additionally, Dr. Howard has received near-universal praise from industry and labor interests alike for his service protecting American workers. He has proven to be an outstanding public servant, and political ideology should not drive him out.
What can I say about this bush-league administration?
Well, I can say that it looks as if a McCain administration would be a worthy successor. At least that's the gist of a new study by the Center for American Progress Action Fund McCain’s Radical Prescription for Health Care - Plan Would Raise Taxes on Many Middle-Class Families and Fail to Make Insurance Affordable - James Kvaal, Peter Harbage, and Ben Furnas, John (July 2, 2008).
The McCain healthcare plan may be found here.