County reaches out to Korean community | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

On Saturday, the county Health Department held its first health fair for the same minority group, hoping to bring its services to a community that often prefers isolation.

Both efforts are part of an outreach aimed at creating new bonds with one of the county's largest minorities.

Mark Chang, a community and constituent services officer for County Executive John R. Leopold, said the separate efforts are part of a trend toward greater community involvement.

"As time goes on I think we're going to see more Korean-Americans obtaining position in government," said Mr. Chang, a Korean-American.

In Anne Arundel County, Asians make up 3 percent of the roughly 510,000 residents. Of those groups, Koreans have the second-highest population with about 4,000 living in the county in 2006, the latest figures available from the U.S. Census.

In the past few years, Mr. Chang said he's seen the Korean-American presence in county government increase, with several Korean-American members on boards and commissions such as the Women's Commission and the Human Relations Commission.

Now the fire department is also reaching out as well. The effort by the fire department is part of a wider recruitment drive aimed at minorities by Fire Chief David Stokes.

"Chief Stokes has always been extraordinarily committed to making sure that our department reflects the diversity of Anne Arundel County," said county fire Battalion Chief Matthew Tobia.

"No one's knocked on the door in the past, so now we're knocking."

Of the 766 county fire personnel, 692 are white, 53 are African-American, nine are Hispanic. But of the other 12 minorities represented, only one is Asian.

"Although we believe we're doing everything we can so that people are aware that opportunities exist, there are always opportunities to do more," Mr. Tobia said. "The biggest challenge we perceive is getting the message out to these communities."

Kap Park of Pasadena, former president of the Korean American Grocers Association, said that the county has been hesitant to approach "underserved communities" in the past, including Korean-Americans.

"It doesn't provide any stable, consistent level of service," he said.

He'd like to see social services and Mr. Leopold's office step up its efforts, although he said the Department of Aging and the Health Department have been aggressive and consistent.

The Korean-American Health Fair at the Pascal Center in Glen Burnie on Saturday offered services to help eliminate health disparities in the county, said Phillip Sears Jr., the program manager for the office of minority health.

"This is just another avenue," he said. "It doesn't stop here."

Materials at the fair were available in English and Korean, and two translators were on location to help.

"I like to talk in person rather than on the phone," said Lena Kim, a Glen Burnie resident who took her mother to the fair to get her questions about Medicaid answered.

She thought networking with Korean religious leaders would also be an effective way for the county to reach the Korean population. She attends Bethel Church in Ellicott City with several other county residents, but nothing of the fair was mentioned there.

Information on tobacco prevention and cessation, cancer prevention and various screening and blood pressure checks were available from a large group of organizations, including the Department of Aging and Disabilities, cancer screening services, WIC (Women Infants and Children), the county's Emergency Preparedness Program as well as hospital partners Baltimore Washington Medical Center and Harbor Hospital.

Surveys were given out to recruit for potential focus groups and to help develop more culturally appropriate materials.

Chong Barden, president of the Korean American Women's Society, said the Korean-American community will gradually integrate into the wider population.

"When the first generation was coming they started their own businesses," she said. "The second generation is going to more professional jobs so they are mixing more. It's easier than the first generation. There's no language barrier, too."

Future generations will be mixing even more, she said.

"With a collective culture, the folks in the community have strong ties together," Mr. Chang said.

"I think that we're starting to see more intermingling outside of the culture." Mr. Park agreed. "The second generation is more open and I believe they have the guts to go out and associate with others."

The deadline to apply for recruit firefighter is May 19. To apply, visit www.aacounty.org/fire or call the recruitment line at 410-222-8282.