Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in the world, America’s populace is still – among industrialized nations – the sickest – especially African-American children.

Although African Americans make up roughly 12 percent of the total population, Blacks are enduring the brunt of a national healthcare crisis.

The facts are clear: the prevalence of diabetes among African Americans is about 70 percent higher than among Anglo Americans; one out of four African-American girls ages 12-17 are overweight; nationwide 12.7 percent of Black children were reported as having asthma; and Black infants are more than twice as likely to die in the first year of life as white babies, according to information compiled by the Children’s Defense Fund and BlackHealthCare.com.

The statistics are alarming. Fortunately for Black Houstonians and their children, close proximity to a nationally ranked pediatric facility does provide a glimmer of hope.

Texas Children’s Hospital has served the Houston community for 54 years and is an internationally recognized full-care pediatric hospital. Texas Children’s also boasts a commitment to diversity, partnerships with minorities and outreach to Houston’s African-American communities.

Programs such as Project Medical Home, Mobile Clinic Outreach and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile allow Texas Children’s Hospital to care for uninsured, underserved Black folks in their backyards.

In the halls of Texas Children’s Hospital and its subsidiaries – including a new women’s hospital – diversity within the workforce is a reminder of the company’s desire to create a welcoming place for minorities.

“One of Texas Children’s guiding principles is valuing individuals, setting the expectation for all members of the workforce to appreciate diverse backgrounds, education, style, organization affiliation, ability, and motivation,” said Wanda Davis, diversity specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital. “Many hospitals serve diverse communities of people and Texas Children’s is no exception. Texas Children’s cares for an extremely diverse patient population from local to national to international. When patients and families come to Texas Children’s, they are calmed and cared for by a similarly diverse team of the best and the brightest whose No. 1 goal is to help their child.”

Indeed, African Americans constitute 27 percent of staff, according to the hospital. Figures were unavailable for physicians because they are staffed by Baylor College of Medicine. Texas Children’s offers programs such as school at work – and onsite program that allows employees to learn more about becoming a healthcare professional – GED, tuition assistance, diversity training and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for employees.

There is no cost for employees to participate in the eight-month school at work course, which they can attend on paid work time during their normal shift, Davis said. Ninety percent of all participants in the school-at-work program are African American. Ninety-five percent of all GED program participants are African American.