National Minority Health Month 2021

Minority populations disproportionately experience poor outcomes related to key national health indicators. These persistent disparities respond to inequities in care and access, social and economic factors, and the enduring effects of structural racism, prejudice, and discrimination. The COVID-19 pandemic has starkly illustrated these inequities, which makes honoring National Minority Health Month more important now than ever.

Be #VaccineReady

The Office of Minority Health – in partnership with fellow Offices of Minority Health at HHS, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and healthcare professionals around the nation – is working to lessen the impacts COVID-19 is having on racial and ethnic minority populations and American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

The goal is to empower communities to proactively practice COVID-19 safety measures, get the facts about COVID-19 vaccines, share accurate vaccine information, participate in clinical trials, and get vaccinated when the time comes.

Get Connected

Social Media Toolkit

We’ve put together a collection of social media posts and graphics designed to raise awareness about racial and ethnic disparities and the need to achieve health equity. Access the toolkit.

NMHM Infographic

Minority health disparities are a national crisis. Share this infographic to inspire change and improvement in health outcomes for minority populations.

Social Media Weekly Themes

Celebrate NICHQ's weekly social media themes.

Week 1: Address disparities
Week 2: Support all mothers
Week 3: Strengthen change efforts
Week 4: Advocate for health equity

Follow and Subscribe

Follow NICHQ on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to our newsletter for articles and resources throughout the month.

Webinars for Pursuing Equity

Our Health Equity Webinar Series is focused on actionable steps individuals can take to promote change, including:

NICHQ Articles About Minority Health

Addressing Black Maternal Mortality Rates Starts with Listening to Black Women

In New York State (NYS), Black women are more than three times as likely to die from pregnancy or giving birth as white women. This disparity has persisted alongside the U.S.’s rising maternal mortality rate, which has doubled in the past 15 years. Recognizing the urgent need for change both within their state and across the nation, NYS launched an initiative to engage women of color in identifying sustainable solutions for improvement.

How 101 Communities Are Closing the Disparity Gap in Maternal and Child Health

Persistent and unacceptable disparities in infant mortality and perinatal outcomes affect the health of families in every state in the nation. For the past 30 years, the federal Healthy Start program has provided integral maternal and child health services in communities disproportionately impacted by negative birth outcomes. Now, NICHQ is working with all 101 Healthy Start community sites to harness lessons learned, implement innovative approaches to improvement, and ultimately start to close the disparity gap in maternal and infant health.

Addressing Infant Health Disparities in the American Indian Population Starts by Building Trust with Tribes

Native Americans have rich traditions and beliefs that often conflict with Western healthcare culture. To address disparities in infant health in this vulnerable population, experts say public health and healthcare workers need to build relationships first, then offer advice second.

From Savior-Designed to Equity-Empowered Systems

Institutional racism continues to plague the health of children and families across the country. How do we pursue sustainable change? The answer starts with intentionally confronting and deconstructing how health systems were designed.

Opportunities to Improve Health Equity for Mothers, Babies and Children

To understand health holistically, we need to consider it outside the silo of a healthcare system. We need to take into account the many other factors that impact our individual health, factors like the schools we attend and the relationships we experience. Read on to uncover three tried and tested ways to make changes in your state and help ensure that all children, regardless of circumstance, achieve equity in health outcomes.