April is National Minority Health Month! This annual observance builds awareness about the health disparities that persist among racial and ethnic minority and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations and encourages everyone to take action to end these inequities.
The theme for 2024, Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections, is about understanding how the unique environments, cultures, histories, and circumstances (known as social determinants of health or SDOH) of racial and ethnic minority and AI/AN populations impact their overall health.
The HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) is committed to working with its public health and community-based partners to Be the Source for Better Health by providing quality, equitable, and respectful care and services that are responsive to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, economic and environmental circumstances, and health literacy levels. This year’s theme focuses on two topics critical to advancing health equity: social determinants of health and cultural competency and humility.
SDOH impact nearly everyone in one way or another. Considering the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age is fundamental to improving health and reducing longstanding disparities affecting racial and ethnic minority and AI/AN populations. Longstanding inequities in the five domains of SDOH influence a wide range of health risks and quality-of-life outcomes.
Visit the National Minority Health Month 2024 website to find resources, social media messages, graphics, and information on how to Be the Source for Better Health.
Taking Action to Improve Health and Wellbeing by Addressing Social Determinants of Health
The White House and HHS have released several resources to help support federal agencies, states, and local and Tribal governments to better coordinate health care, public health, and social services: