While it is little surprise that those people with the fewest resources often suffer the largest health disparities in our country, the Self Reliance Foundation subscribes to public health theory which holds that our entire country cannot enjoy the best possible health until all members of our society are receiving the health and wellness information and services they need. Unfortunately, Hispanics suffer significant health disparities. Hispanics are twice as likely to die from diabetes than other groups, and have lower survival rates for almost every type of cancer. Additionally, Hispanic children are three times as likely as whites to have no regular source of medical care, and 20% of Spanish-speaking Hispanics report not seeking medical care as a result of their language barriers.

In general, the health disparities that Hispanics suffer are not demonstrative of their poor health, but of their poor recognition and prevention of many chronic health conditions. Therefore, SRF's health campaigns seek not only to raise awareness of common health conditions but also, via our help-line, to connect audiences to the local health resources they need. Just a few of our many health campaigns have included:

Conociendo tu Cuerpo

	Conociendo tu Cuerpo is a National Institute of Health-funded project that combines the power of Spanish-language with direct outreach, in an effort to improve health science knowledge among Hispanic audiences. Through a series of 40 one-minute radio programs and interactive exhibits at community events, this campaign inspires Hispanic families to learn more about
their bodies, and pursue related health science careers. Conociendo tu Cuerpo broaches such topics as diabetes, cancer prevention, obesity, and disease literacy, and includes resources that target the needs and perspectives of Hispanic children, students, adults, and families as a whole.

Human Genome Hispanic Outreach Initiative

The Human Genome Hispanic Outreach Initiative is an informal educational outreach project introducing Hispanic adults to the basic concepts underlying the Human Genome. This series of radio capsules first familiarizes Hispanic audiences with foundation of basic science and genetics terms that enable them to grasp the human genome project. From
there, the series goes on to review the ethical, legal and social issues concerning human genome research, and possible implications for the future of health and society. We encourage you to visit the project's Spanish webpage, Nuestro Genoma.