Factors Contributing to Health, Health Disparities, and Access to Services

The primary factors contributing to health, health disparities, and access to services include Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and racial and ethnic identity (Maness et al., 2020). SDOH, such as socioeconomic status, neighborhood conditions, access to quality education, and exposure to violence, can exacerbate the effects of bullying and contribute to health disparities within the African American community (Maness et al., 2020). Moreover, racism, discrimination, and prejudice can intersect with bullying, leading to heightened psychological distress and isolation. Such experiences can profoundly affect mental health and well-being, requiring specific attention when addressing the health needs of African American children facing bullying (Maness et al., 2020).

Furthermore, health disparities can arise when healthcare providers and professionals lack cultural competence and understanding of the experiences and needs of African American individuals (Omenka et al., 2020). Similarly, African American communities may face barriers to accessing appropriate mental health services, including limited availability of culturally competent providers, financial constraints, stigma around seeking help, and a lack of awareness about available resources (Omenka et al., 2020).

Addressing the health, health disparities, and access to services for African American children facing bullying requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach considering the SDOH, cultural competence, access to mental health services, supportive school environments, and community involvement. Addressing these factors makes it possible to reduce health disparities and promote the overall well-being of African American students who face bullying in schools (Omenka et al., 2020).

Establishing Agreed-Upon Health Goals

Reducing the impact of bullying among African American students in schools requires a comprehensive plan and adequate SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-frame) (Ackley et al., 2019). These goals help provide medical assistance and identify the factors that are the core competency to reduce issue impact. By involving Aleena, who represents the African American community, in establishing health goals related to bullying in schools, the initiatives become more relevant, impactful, and sustainable (Ackley et al., 2019).

This collaborative approach promotes cultural sensitivity, community empowerment, trust, and holistic understanding, leading to more effective interventions and improved health outcomes for African American children facing bullying. Therefore, I will create the SMART goals for Aleena to overcome her depression and anxiety state and mitigate the reason that is causing her mental and physical health disturbance (Ackley et al., 2019).

However, besides Aleena’s involvement, school management incorporation will also be needed because improving the school environment and climate, creating awareness among students, especially white Americans, and improving access to mental health services will help achieve desired objectives. SMART goals are objectives that provide clear direction and facilitate effective planning (Ackley et al., 2019).

SMART Goals

I decided to implement a few goals and achieve them in three months year, including:

• Increase Awareness and Reporting among African American and white-American students (Dale, 2022)
• Enhance School Climate and Supportive Environments for ethnic groups
• Improve Access to Mental Health Services for Aleena (Dale, 2022)

Goal 1: Increase Awareness and Reporting

• Specific : Increase awareness and understanding of bullying among white and African American students.
• Measurable : Decrease the number of bullying incidents reported by African American students by 35% within three academic months.
• Achievable : Implement educational campaigns and workshops on bullying awareness, prevention, and reporting within schools (Dale, 2022).
• Relevant : Address the specific needs and experiences of African American students facing bullying.
• Time-bound : Achieve the target increase in reported incidents within three months.

Goal 2: Enhance School Climate and Supportive Environments

• Specific : Foster a positive and inclusive school environment for African American students (Dale, 2022).
• Measurable : Increase the percentage of African American students reporting feeling safe and supported at school by 25% within three months.
• Achievable