Advancing Community Care with Environment-Sensitive Standards
Communities of color and other underserved populations face significant disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and health outcomes.
📅 April is National Minority Health Month — Help spread the word. Download the Free Social Media Toolkit →
Observed every April, National Minority Health Month (NMHM) calls attention to and works to eliminate disparities in access to healthcare and health outcomes in underserved communities across the United States.
NMHM is dedicated to raising awareness of disparities in care, advocating for policy changes to better support underserved communities, and promoting initiatives that address the social determinants of health — advancing health access for all minority populations.
Booker T. Washington advanced early efforts to improve health and living conditions for Black Americans, emphasizing self-reliance, education, and community-based approaches to public health and well-being.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Black and Minority Health (Heckler Report), the first comprehensive federal study documenting racial and ethnic health disparities and calling for coordinated national action.
The National Minority Quality Forum (then NMHM Foundation) launched the initiative to build on the long legacy of minority health advocacy in America.
Launched in April in response to Healthy People 2010, an initiative led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to promote health and disease prevention.
The U.S. Congress officially recognized April as National Minority Health Month via a Concurrent Resolution, reinforcing the federal government's commitment to reducing health disparities.
The data behind the disparities we work to address.
"Without health, it will be impossible for us to have permanent success in business, in property getting, or in acquiring education."
This principle remains as urgent today as ever. Millions of Americans in minority communities face systemic barriers to accessing quality healthcare — from lack of insurance and geographic distance to implicit bias and mistrust built over generations.
NMHM is a signature program of the National Minority Quality Forum — a data-driven, patient-focused nonprofit dedicated to eliminating disparities and improving health outcomes for all.
Every action — large or small — helps advance health access for underserved communities. Here are three ways to participate.
Tips and strategies to host a community health event and provide access to health resources in your neighborhood.
Download Community Toolkit →Share how you or your organization is working in the community to advance health access and equity for all.
Start Sharing →Download the National Minority Health Month Social Media Toolkit and start spreading the word today.
Download Social Toolkit →Data from the NAACP and the Administration for Community Living highlight significant, measurable disparities affecting communities of color and other underserved populations across the United States.
Older adults in some minority communities are more than twice as likely as white Americans to develop Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
Certain communities of color are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and face higher rates of hospitalization due to complications.
Rates of high blood pressure are substantially higher in many underserved communities, particularly among women of color.
Women from some minority groups are more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, despite similar or lower incidence rates.
Individuals in several underserved populations face a higher risk of stroke, underscoring the need for early intervention and equitable access to care.
Older adults in many minority communities experience disproportionately higher poverty rates, impacting access to healthcare and healthy living resources.
Sources: NAACP Health Disparities Report · ACL Profile of Older Adults (65+)
Guidance from community physicians on the most important screening and care steps you can take.
You have to be your own best advocate for yourself and your family members.
Once you turn 40, start getting screened for colon cancer — don't wait.
Get screened and know your Hgb A1c and Fasting Glucose levels regularly.
Women: continue monthly self-exams and get a screening mammogram starting at age 40.
A calcium scoring CT scan is an inexpensive screening test to evaluate your heart condition.
Your mouth is the gateway to your body. Dental health protects your heart, brain, and overall wellbeing.
Exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and keep your mind active through reading, puzzles, and new skills.
High blood pressure is a major cause of chronic kidney disease. Keep your numbers in a healthy range.
Dr. Gary A. Puckrein, President and CEO of the National Minority Quality Forum, speaks to the urgency of health equity — and what we must do together to unlock access for every community in America.
Celebrate NMHM on the go—whether you're driving, jogging, or unwinding—with a playlist packed with powerful songs that empower, encourage, and identify us. Get in the NMHM groove with soulful anthems and community stories that honor our resilience and inspire the journey toward health equity for all.
Open in SpotifyIn 1985, U.S. Secretary of Health Margaret Heckler commissioned a landmark study that would forever change the conversation around minority health in America. The Secretary's Task Force on Black and Minority Health — commonly known as the Heckler Report — was the first comprehensive federal examination of health disparities affecting racial and ethnic minorities.
Its findings were stark and undeniable: Black Americans and other minorities were dying at disproportionately higher rates from preventable diseases. The report became the catalyst for decades of minority health advocacy, policy reform, and ultimately, the founding of National Minority Health Month itself.
This historic document remains as relevant today as it was 40 years ago — a reminder of both how far we've come and how far we still have to go.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services · Volume I: Executive Summary
Commissioned by Margaret M. Heckler, Secretary of HHS — the first major federal study on minority health disparities.
Key finding: Over 60,000 excess deaths per year among Black Americans alone — deaths that would not occur if mortality rates matched those of white Americans.
Legacy: Directly inspired the creation of the HHS Office of Minority Health in 1986 and laid the groundwork for NMHM in 2001.
Focus areas: Cancer, cardiovascular disease, chemical dependency, diabetes, homicide, infant mortality, and unintentional injuries.
Real voices from advocates, clinicians, and community members working to advance health equity across America.
Lupus can show signs on your skin before you even know something is happening internally. Please advocate for yourself and give your doctor as much information as possible about any symptoms.
African Americans are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's as white Americans. And yet — we're less likely to get diagnosed, less likely to talk about it, and less likely to plan for it. Silence doesn't protect us.
Black Americans face higher risk for Alzheimer's and other dementias — but also face barriers to diagnosis, care, and research inclusion. Let's commit to building communities that support, uplift, and include Black families.
Alzheimer's is the 4th leading cause of death among Black Americans aged 65+. For communities underrepresented in clinical research, early detection is crucial. Today you can take back control of your brain health.
Robbin's work involves bringing dementia education and outreach to faith communities — one church, mosque, synagogue, and temple at a time. The disparities in healthspan, wealthspan, and lifespan are unacceptable.
Federal health agencies including NIH have faced directives affecting external communications and research programs. Now more than ever, community-led health initiatives and advocacy are essential to filling the gaps.
Connect with leaders, advocates, and community members dedicated to advancing health access and equity for all.
Join the National Minority Quality Forum's flagship annual summit bringing together policymakers, clinicians, and community advocates to drive measurable change in health disparities and access across America.
Register Today →Trust, Truth, and Behavior Change in the New Misinformation Era
Stay up-to-date with the latest health information, research, and resources — curated for communities that need it most.