(February 23, 2008) East Los Angeles - Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard participated as a guest speaker in the program for the Healthy Family: Happy Child (Familia Saludable: Niño Feliz) community health fair, which took place at the AltaMed Clinic at 3945 Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles, located in the 34th Congressional District.

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard encouraged the parents in attendance to take advantage of the free health screenings that were offered at the health fair and thanked them for their commitment to creating a healthier and safer future for their children and their families. The congresswoman also visited the trailers and tents where the medical and dental screenings took place.

The Children’s Health Forum partnered with the National Council of La Raza (NCLR)/California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation and Leadership Training, and AltaMed Health Services Corporation to organize the Healthy Family: Happy Child (Familia Saludable: Niño Feliz) health fair. The Children's Health Forum (CHF) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention and eradication of childhood diseases that disproportionately impact underserved communities. The NCLR/CSULB Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation, and Leadership Training works to support health promotion and disease prevention programs in underserved Latino communities nationwide. AltaMed Health Services is a private non-profit organization that has been providing health care to the underserved and uninsured in Southern California through 17 service locations, four of which are in the 34th Congressional District.

Pictured in the above photos: Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard addresses the crowd at the Healthy Family: Happy Child (Familia Saludable: Niño Feliz) community health fair. In the second photo from left to right: Melanie Hudson, Children’s Health Forum; Dr. Marie Torres, AltaMed Health Services; Dr. Britt Rios-Ellis, NCLR/CSULB Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation and Leadership Training; and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard.

The following is the full text of the congresswoman’s remarks:

“It is my pleasure to welcome you to my 34th Congressional District and to today’s Healthy Family: Happy Child fair.

I thank the Children’s Health Forum for having this health fair in my congressional district and for being a leader in disease prevention.

I particularly commend the Children’s Health Forum for championing screening and education programs for the leading preventable diseases in children.

I also thank the National Council of La Raza and Cal State Long Beach Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation and Leadership Training, AltaMed Health Services Corporation, and all the partner organizations and volunteers
for participating in today’s health screening fair.

And I thank and commend each and every one of you for taking the time from your busy schedules to be here today.

I especially want to say thank you to the parents.

As the focal point of your child’s life, you are their main role models.

You set the example that influences their choices and the future quality of their life.

Today you are taking an important step toward making a profound difference in the well-being of your children and your entire family.

Today you will learn how a healthy lifestyle is essential to preventing many diseases and avoiding high medical costs.

A perfect example is diabetes.

Our Latino communities have some of the highest rates of diabetes in the country.

This terrible disease which can result in amputations, heart disease, and even death due to complications, is in fact preventable.

And it is just one of the preventable diseases you will learn about today.

I therefore encourage you to take advantage of the educational materials and the health screening services being offered today.

I also encourage you to talk to the health professionals who have volunteered their time.

Not only can they help you to prevent many diseases, they can also provide you with information on how to control diseases like diabetes and asthma, which disproportionately impact our minority communities and cause suffering and harm.

They can also provide you with information on how to keep your families safe from exposures to lead and other environmental toxins.

And when you leave today armed with all this important information, remember, you will help to make a profound difference in the well being of your entire family by being a role model for healthy eating, exercising regularly and making healthy lifestyle choices like not smoking.

Thank you again for being here and for the love and commitment you have to creating a healthier and safer future for your children and your family.”