title: Strategies for improving the Office of Minority Health.
abstract: The Office of Minority Health (OMH) was established in 1986 to improve and protect the health of racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities. Since its initial congressional mandate, it has produced multiple programs, campaigns, publications, and educational materials promoting the health of ethnic minorities. However, its continued existence is by no means assured. Recently, it faced harsh criticism regarding the success of its programs, and congressional leaders have introduced legislation designed to modify the office and its minority focus. In this report, we review 1) the accomplishments and inefficiencies of the current office and 2) provide recommendations to improve OMH's effectiveness in reducing health disparities and addressing health issues in minority populations.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Onelia G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Lage
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Natale-Pereira
authors.forename: Sylvia E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Rosas
mesh_terms: D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006266:Health Education; D006291:Health Policy; D006292:Health Priorities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D054525:Minority Health; D014481:United States; D037041:United States Government Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration*