H.E.A.L. presents the Community Health Rights
7 Community
Health Rights
You
have heard of the patients bill of rights. This is to guarantee a certain level
of care, dignity and privacy when a person enters the healthcare system or
setting. Unfortunately, it applies to individuals after they are sick or
seeking medical care. It does not provide rights that reduce the onset of
disease, develop healthy communities and spaces nor does it address health
inequity and disparities, especially among communities of color.
H.E.A.L.
Has composed a list of rights that all communities should be guaranteed to
preserve and promote health. We reaffirm
these rights especially among communities of color.
1 Right
to a healthy environment,
·
We have a right to clean air, land and water.
·
This includes the right to reliable, clean
drinking water, good air quality. The right to provide input on local land use.
·
The right to restrict or limit polluting
facilities in our community. This includes eliminating the unfair distribution
of commercial waste facilities, incinerators, landfills and other potentially
toxic facilities. This right forbids the displacement, destruction or dividing
of a community by transportation infrastructures such as highways, bus depots
and railroads.
·
The right to sufficient green spaces to enjoy and
exercise. The right to tree lined communities to improve air quality and
presentation.
·
The right to have appropriate investment in roads
and infrastructure.
·
The right to a government who invest in and
evaluated reduction strategies to climate change.
·
The right to knowledge of and resources for
natural sources of energy.
·
The right to have equal clean up and services by
sanitation.
·
The right to be free of blight and excess abandoned
buildings.
·
Right to accessible and clean-air transportation.
·
Right to live without fear of displacement,
segregation or overcrowding.
2 Right
to healthy food,
·
We have a right to affordable, easily accessible
healthy food options.
·
This right includes increasing access to fresh
fruits and vegetables in local stores and markets.
·
The right to use of, knowledge of and access to
community gardens and farmers markets
·
The right to expect quality and local food stores
and supermarkets, which are held to the appropriate standards to eliminate
infestation or the selling of expired, damaged or spoiled foods.
·
This right includes reducing the predominance of
fast food restaurants and the elimination of “food swamps”. This right includes
reducing the aggressive marketing and selling of fast foods, processed foods,
sweets and sugary beverages to communities of color.
3 Right
to health care and emergency services.
·
We have a right to accessible medical care and
facilities that provide culturally competent care.
·
Right to affordable health care.
·
Right to wellness and preventative services.
·
Right to health care providers who are
knowledgeable to the unique medical and psycho-social challenges among all communities,
including of color and disabled persons.
·
A right to ethical medical practices, without
coercion or manipulation. Right to community practices and community health
centers held to appropriate standards.
·
The right to emotional well being which includes
being free from constant stress associated with racism, harassment and
prejudice and free from constant fear.
·
Right for appropriate coverage of mental health
services including holistic mental care facilities that are fully staffed with
psychology, psychiatrist, trauma informed per counselors, includes access to
affordable mindfulness, meditation services and culturally relevant expressive
arts, for healing.
·
And finally, the right to expect and receive
appropriate aide, assistance including appropriate response time of local and/
or federal emergency services during individual and community emergencies
4 Right
to healthy housing
·
We have a right to live in housing that provides
safe and clean shelter and environment.
·
The right to live in housing that does not
exacerbate or cause health problems.
·
Right to housing free from toxins and
contaminants including lead-free, mold-free, pest-free.
·
Housing with appropriate heating, cooling and
ventilation.
·
Housing with all appropriate fire codes and
protection.
·
This right includes expectation of building
owners and city officials to maintain plumbing and water infrastructure that
doesn’t allow for chronic leaks, floods or lead poisoning.
·
Right to expect reasonable modifications that may
eliminate barriers to healthy living. Right to have building cleaned and
repaired timely.
·
Right to housing with community and outdoor
space.
·
Right to affordable housing. Right includes
counties, cities and districts investing in and developing affordable housing
and accessible housing.
5 Right
to healthy school and school zones
·
We have a right for our children to expect a substance-free
and violence-free experience in, en-route to or in proximity to school.
·
Eliminating aggressive marketing of fast foods,
alcohol and tobacco to youth around schools.
·
Right to healthy breakfast and lunch at schools.
·
This includes the right to healthy options
snacks, in schools and within proximity to schools. Right for school districts
to terminate or eliminate contracts with beverages companies who do not offer
healthy options.
·
Right to
appropriate services to address learning disabilities, trauma or mental health
issues among children. This right includes investment in trauma informed care
and therapy in communities with higher rates of violence and trauma.
·
This right includes eliminating the school-to
prison pipeline and providing effective unbiased method to reduce school
violence and behavioral issues.
6 Right
to healthy work spaces,
·
We have a right to jobs that promote health by
providing decent working hours, work spaces free of toxic material, jobs
providing a living wage, health coverage and encourages wellness.
·
Right to have equal access to jobs. Right To have
equal promotion and compensation.
·
Right to be protected from excess work hazards,
including providing appropriate protective equipment and precautions,
minimizing occupational hazards and being transparent about all potential work
hazards and adverse exposures.
·
This right includes a supportive work environment
free from harassment, bullying and discrimination.
·
The right to a job that allows basic self- care
through suitable break time, lunch break, and appropriate paid sick time. Right
to work - life balance.
7 Right
to be free, respected,
·
We have a right to live and walk freely without threats
of arrest, racial profiling, police brutality , harassment or barriers.
·
This includes elimination of mass incarceration
and the elimination of detention of immigrants.
·
Right to fair immigration laws and for all
immigrants to be treated equally with the right to seek jobs, health and
education while pursuing citizenship.
·
Right to expect full investigation into crimes
against by other citizens or law enforcement.
·
Right not to be harassed or arrested for minor
violations, or unjustly accused.
·
We have a right to freedom.
Created
by Health Empowerment for African Americans and Latinos, December 7,2018
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