Alcohol’s Effects on Health
April 2, 2024
Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections
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.
This year’s theme, 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 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) is committed to working with 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. When patients are provided with culturally and linguistically appropriate information, they are better able to create healthier outcomes for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Taking Action to Improve Health and Wellbeing by Addressing Social Determinants of Health
In November 2023, The White House and HHS released several resources to help support federal agencies, states, and local and Tribal governments to better coordinate health care, public health, and social services:
- U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health – PDF
- HHS Call to Action to Address Health Related Social Needs
- Statement by Secretary Xavier Becerra in Honor of National Minority Health Month
Get Involved in National Minority Health Month
Participate in conversations about health equity on social media by tagging @MinorityHealth on X (Twitter) , Facebook , and Instagram and using the hashtags, #SourceForBetterHealth, #MinorityHealth, and #NMHM24.
Use this toolkit to spread the word about National Minority Health Month.
Learn more about the five domains of SDOH and how you can take steps to start improving the health of your community.
Join HHS, OMH, and other federal partners for these National Minority Health Month events.
Use the OMH Knowledge Center’s reading list to find additional research, resources, and information on SDOH.