National Minority Health Month, April 2017

National Minority Health Month is an opportunity to renew our commitment to reduce health disparities and improve the health status of minority populations. National Minority Health Month received support from the U.S. Congress in 2002, with a concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 388) that “a National Minority Health and Health Disparities Month should be established to promote educational efforts on the health problems currently facing minorities and other populations experiencing health disparities.” The resolution encouraged “all health organizations and Americans to conduct appropriate programs and activities to promote healthfulness in minority and other communities experiencing health disparities.”

The HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) leads the observance of National Minority Health Month. Their 2017 theme is “Bridging Health Equity Across Communities." Throughout April, HHS OMH will lead with their partners in raising awareness about efforts across health, education, justice, housing, transportation and employment sectors to address the factors known as the social determinants of health – environmental, social and economic conditions that impact health.

To help start a conversation, the NIMHD theme is “Understanding Social and Environmental Determinants to Bridge Health Equity.” Recognizing the impact of social and environmental determinants on health and health behaviors, this theme looks at ways social determinants can be used to reduce health disparities.

The NIH will commemorate National Minority Health Month with several events:

NIMHD/NLM Science Day with Mentoring in Medicine, Inc.
April 7, 2017, NIH Campus
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

NIMHD and the National Library of Medicine will partner to host a day of science for more than 500 students—many of them African American or Hispanic— for a day of science. The group, Mentoring in Medicine, is a non-profit organization that works with underprivileged students to inspire and prepare them to become health care and science professionals. NOTE: participation is by invitation only.
Minority Health 5K Walk/Run (NIH Main Campus)
April 12, 2017, NIH Campus, Building 1
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
Follow at #MinorityHealth5K

NIMHD, in collaboration with the NIH Office of Research Services and the Recreation and Welfare Association Fitness and Wellbeing Program, is hosting a Minority Health 5K Walk/Run. All NIH staff are invited to walk or run around the perimeter of the NIH campus (approximately 3.25 miles from start to finish) – rain or shine. Please remember to bring your HHS/NIH ID Badge for campus reentry during the event.
NIMHD Twitter Chat
April 25, 2017
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET
Follow at #HealthEquityChat

NIMHD will host a Twitter Chat with other federal partners on the topic, “Understanding Social and Environmental Determinants to Bridge Health Equity.”

Collaborative Activities with External Stakeholders
In addition to the events mentioned above, NIMHD will also participate in the following external stakeholder activities.

FDA Office of Minority Health
The Importance of Clinical Trials for Latinos - Bilingual Twitter Chat
April 4, 2017
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET
FDA OMH Contacts: Cariny Nunez, Shakia Baskerville
HHS/Office of Minority Health
Bridge 2 Health Twitter Town Hall
April 12, 2017
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
Follow at #Bridge2Health

For information on programs, initiatives and resources related to minority health and health disparities, or to learn about activities at the NIH and across the HHS bringing awareness to and highlighting efforts toward the advancement of health equity during National Minority Health Month, visit the following links: