HCN Global is expanding its Leadership for a Culture of Health webinar series through a new partnership with the Society for Health Communication (SHC), aiming to address systemic barriers in preventive care and maternal health. The second series, announced today, will bring together health communicators, community leaders, health workers, and advocates to explore how structural factors—such as health coverage, language access, transportation, and immigration concerns—affect access to preventive care and maternal health outcomes. The initiative is part of HCN Global’s broader Culture of Health / la Cultura de Salud program, which began as a multicultural, bilingual multimedia effort to address social determinants of health in Latino and Black communities across the United States.
Building on the first series, which focused on structural racism and its health impacts, the new phase targets two areas where inequities persist: preventive care and maternal and reproductive health. The webinars will also examine how chronic stress and systemic barriers influence mental health and community resilience. “Culture of Health / la Cultura de Salud has always been about turning awareness into action, and this next peer-to-peer learning series does that,” said Alison Rodden, CEO of HCN Global. “Community leaders and health communicators are on the front lines of these conversations promoting equitable solutions every day. Our job is to make sure they have the tools, the language, and confidence to meet the moment.”
The first webinar, scheduled for August 28, 2026, will focus on preventive care and healthcare navigation. It will address how factors like health coverage, language access, transportation, and immigration-related concerns can hinder access to preventive services. Participants will learn ways to reduce these barriers, improve navigation, and connect people with trusted resources. Registration is available at Zoom Webinar Registration.
A second session on maternal and reproductive health is planned for November 2026, highlighting disparities in maternal health outcomes, particularly among Black and Latina mothers and infants. It will explore communications and systems-level approaches to support healthier outcomes. Speaker details and registration will be announced closer to the date.
The partnership leverages HCN Global’s experience in culturally grounded health communications and SHC’s national network of health communication professionals. Together, they will extend the series’ reach through organizations like La Red Hispana, Melanin Thriving, and LatinEQUIS, and provide on-demand recordings after each session. “Preventive care and maternal health are two of the clearest examples of how structural barriers show up in everyday outcomes—and health communicators have a real role to play in closing those gaps,” said Dana Chomenko, Executive Director of SHC. “This partnership gives our members culturally grounded examples and tools they can use, not just another conversation about the problem.”
HCN Global continues to house resources for ongoing learning on dedicated webpages, including LatinEQUIS, Melanin Thriving, and La Red Hispana for Spanish-language materials.
