We convene a data equity workgroup in partnership with the California Department of Public Health, to ensure data laws are compliant and best practices are institutionalized. We focus on Assembly Bill 1726 as a case study, which mandates the disaggregation of health indicators into more specific AA and NHPI subgroups.
Key resource:
This policy brief presents key challenges to implementing California Assembly Bill 1726, which passed in 2016 and requires the California Department of Public Health to break down broad demographic data it collects into more specific Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander subgroups.
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SEARAC Policy Brief Highlights Opportunities, Challenges to Achieve Data Equity for AA and NHPI Communities in California
SEARAC is proud to release “AB 1726: A California Case Study on Disaggregating Public Health Data by Race and Ethnicity,” a new policy brief that presents key challenges to implementing California Assembly Bill 1726, which passed in 2016 and requires the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to break down broad demographic data it collects into more specific Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) subgroups.
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“Data disaggregation is a decades-long advocacy issue that Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities have fought for and will continue to fight for until our communities are thriving. EPIC understands data disaggregation is one of the critical ways to uncover and address NHPI health and social inequities. AB 1726 would make the health outcomes of additional NHPI ethnic groups including Tongans and Fijians visible.”
Empowering Pacific Islander Communities
“Southeast Asian Americans (SEAAs) experience unique health inequities due to our experiences with war, genocide, and displacement. For example, heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death for SEAAs in California, potentially linked to toxic chemicals used during the violence in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Almost half of SEAA Californians are limited English proficient and experience linguistic and cultural barriers to accessing care. Community leaders and policymakers need disaggregated data in order to identify disparities various populations face and create evidence-based solutions that improve health outcomes for all.”
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Latest related posts
SEARAC`s June 2026 newsletter is live! This month`s newsletter features a staff reflection on sabbatical, an overview of recent rulings from the Supreme Court, update on health care in CA, and more.
Read the newsletter at the link in our bio!
Jul 1
SEARAC applauds the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold birthright citizenship. It affirms the idea that every child born here is entitled to the same rights, dignity, and chance to thrive and rejects efforts to erode the constitutional protections guaranteed to everyone born in the United States.
Read SEARAC`s full response at the link in our bio.
Jun 30
This year, Vyvian from our partners at @vietrainbowoc shared a reflection that we want to leave you with as we close out June:
“One day, I hope that LGBTQIA+ Southeast Asian Americans, young and old alike, are able to fully express their identity as an homage to our rich histories of Queerness… I know there is endless potential in the Southeast Asian American community for love, action, and justice and my hope is that we come together to maximize it.”
Happy Pride Month 🌈 To our LGBTQIA+ Southeast Asian American community: your history is rich, your joy is resistance, and your community is bigger than you know.
Jun 29
“Queer Southeast Asian Americans have always existed, even if our experiences are not always represented in media or in community spaces. Sharing our voices allows others with similar identities to feel seen, valued, and empowered.”
Showing up as our true selves allows others to feel safe being themselves, too. We are proud to celebrate alongside the LGBTQ+ community this Pride Month and uplift the stories of our queer Southeast Asian American community.
Jun 27
LGBTQ+ trailblazers marched, organized, and fought so that we are able to show up fully as ourselves today. This Pride Month, we honor their legacy and stand together in pursuit of social equity for all. Hunny Hach from @uccoflongbeach shares their hope that pathways continue to open up for queer Southeast Asian Americans!
Jun 25
