National Minority Health Month

National Minority Health Month is an inclusive initiative that addresses the health needs of people of color. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of local communities to eliminate the disproportionate burden of premature death and preventable illness in minority populations through prevention, early detection, and control of disease complications.

The History

In April 2001, the National Minority Health Month Foundation launched National Minority Health Month, in response to Healthy People 2010, the US Department of Health and Human Services’ health-promotion and disease-prevention initiative. Today, Healthy People 2020 has succeeded Healthy People 2010, and the Foundation has become the National Minority Quality Forum. The health profile of the United States has changed, as have responses to it. Booker T. Washington started the National Negro Health Week (NNHW) in 1915. From 1921 to 1953, NNHW was a program supported by the Public Health Service. By partnering with Congress and the White House, NMQF started National Minority Health Month in 1998 as a successor of NNHW.

Want To Get Involved?

Get involved by joining in on the conversation. National Minority Quality Forum works to help advance health equity in every department. Join the conversation and stay up-to-date with our work by signing up for our newsletter or checking out some of our initiatives below.

National Minority Quality Forum’s Annual Leadership Summit aims to bridge the equity gap across the lifespan to achieve sustainable health communities. Join us for two days of expert panels, innovative ideas, and celebration of leaders striving to create equity in health.