Who: A coalition of key collaborators, under the leadership of the HRSA funded Heartland|Southwest Sickle Cell Disease Network, will come together for the second in-person meeting to continue to work on goals and activities for sickle cell disease awareness, education, and care delivery across Texas to develop a comprehensive and cohesive Sickle Cell Statewide Action Plan.

Why: The average life expectancy for individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Texas is well below the U.S. general and African American populations. There are not enough knowledgeable providers to adequately care for youth and adults with SCD, leading to increased emergency room visits and hospital admissions and decreased quality of life. There is a lack of community awareness about SCD and sickle cell trait (SCT) and a lack of adequate follow-up for families for whom SCT is identified through newborn screening. As a group, people with SCD experience worse health outcomes compared to other diseases and have access to fewer health resources. This lack of equity is a health disparity.

Our Response: Sickle cell advocates, providers, legislators, community-based organizations, and other key collaborators are invited to attend an in-person meeting on Friday, May 10th in Houston, TX. We will continue working on a comprehensive and cohesive Statewide Action Plan to address health disparities affecting Texans with SCD and SCT. We plan to have the Action Plan finalized by July 2024.

Join Us: Plan to join us for the in-person meeting on Friday, May 10^th in Houston, TX at the NRI. Travel, lodging, and meals for non-local attendees will be covered. We will also have a virtual conferencing option for those that cannot join in person.