PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department), along with the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island Community Advisory Committee and Artist Team, will host a presentation of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) Community Health Needs Assessment from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, at the Billie Jean King Library (200 W. Broadway), followed by a Q&A session with the artist and research team. The needs assessment, led by the Health Department’s Racial and Health Equity team, assesses community strengths and service gaps in relation to the health and wellbeing of the NHPI community in Long Beach.

“We remain committed to racial and health equity and look forward to learning about the specific needs of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in Long Beach,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This roundtable is an opportunity for us to strengthen relationships and explore new partnerships with the NHPI community so we can work together to address their concerns.”

Long Beach is home to more than 2,471 residents identifying as Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders, according to the 2020 Census. The NHPI Community Needs Assessment was developed to identify the impacts of COVID-19 on the local NHPI population and better understand their needs to reduce health inequities. The research team, alongside community advisors, developed a community health survey that was administered in April and May of 2024 to current and former Long Beach residents within the NHPI community.

“We are committed to ensuring that all our communities in Long Beach have what they need to be healthy and thrive. These health needs assessments are an integral step in ensuring that all communities are seen, valued and uplifted,” said Director of Health and Human Services Alison King.

The Health Department will continue to collaborate with the NHPI Community Advisory Committee to begin working on identifying potential strategies to improve health outcomes for the local NHPI community beyond the September round table. Community members will be invited to support the development of these interventions and progress will be reported back on a regular basis.

The public is encouraged to RSVP in advance using the online registration form. People may request interpretation in other languages at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting.

The NHPI Community Needs Assessment is funded by one-time funding from the Center for Disease Control’s Health Equity Community Projects Grant and aligns with Goal 4 of the Racial Equity and Reconciliation Initiative, to improve health and wellness in the city by eliminating social and economic disparities in the communities most impacted by racism.

In 2022, the Health Department completed the Mi Vida Cuenta COVID-19 Latinx Health Initiative Report and Workplan, which was developed by and in partnership with the Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation and Leadership Training. The Health Department also recently completed the Filipino Community Health Needs Assessment and is currently working on a Community Health Needs Assessment with the Cambodian, LGBTQIA2S+, and Black communities that are scheduled to be completed by next year.

About the City of Long Beach 
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about the Long Beach Health Department is available at longbeach.gov/health and on Instagram, Facebook and X.