On today’s episode of The Confluence:
Pittsburgh Foundation reveals new strategic plan to address racial inequity and racial justice
(0:00 - 7:25)
The Pittsburgh Foundation has revealed a new strategic plan to advance racial equity and racial justice over the next five years. It will involve building on the foundation’s past work and awarding $50 million dollars in grants to help create a “vibrant, equitable and just Pittsburgh region.”
According to a 2019 study by the city’s Gender Equity Commission, Pittsburgh is considered “less livable” for Black men and the “most unlivable” city for Black women.
James Huguley, associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, says these inequities in Pittsburgh are not new — but with more resources, real progress can be made.
“These projects can help us to take those inequities on paper, move them into ways to demonstrate what works, what can be done, and to build a public will for the work that happens,” says Huguley. “Lots of time we're talking about a history of inequality in resources and inequities in resources and flat out oppression. That's not going to be corrected with rhetoric, that's going to be corrected with resources.”
Huguley also says that in order for this progress to continue, solutions cannot be a short-term fix; they have to be part of the infrastructure invested across all sectors to create long-term solutions.
A majority of medical marijuana certifications list anxiety as a factor
(7:31 - 14:43)
A first-of-its kind analysis of medical marijuana certifications finds the share of certifications approved for anxiety is rising every year.
In 2021, physicians gave out 385,426 certifications, and 60% listed anxiety disorders as a factor. In 40% of certifications, anxiety was the only factor listed. But physicians say there isn’t sufficient evidence to suggest marijuana is a reliable treatment for anxiety.
“There was a big report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine in 2017. It found that regular cannabis use is likely to increase the risk for developing social anxiety disorder,” says Ed Mahon, investigative reporter with Spotlight PA. “Overall, there's just a lot of unknowns about the long term effect.”
Mahon reports some patients and physicians find medical marijuana has helped with a patient’s anxiety, but there are other concerns about the approval process for a certification.
Healthy Start unveils a comprehensive “BIRTH plan” to address health inequities
(14:43 - 22:30)
Healthy Start, Inc. held a community event yesterday to share its plan for battling inequities and realizing transformational health outcomes, or BIRTH plan, for Allegheny County.
“Through a six month process of community and stakeholder engagement and really talking about many many more priorities, we came down to the top four and then under each of those four are a plethora of activities to achieve those four areas,” says Jada Shirriel, chief executive officer of Healthy Start, Inc.
The four areas outlined in the plan are: strengthening the maternal and child health workforce; strengthening systems of care, addressing social determinants of health, and streamlining maternal and child health initiatives.
Shirriel says a big piece of this work is assessing and changing the systems and policies that create opportunity for some, and limit opportunities for others.
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in Monday to Thursday at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators take an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here or wherever you get your podcasts.
