Unique barriers and issues of access to care disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. Particularly, lower socioeconomic status, lack of health insurance, and low literacy levels, contribute to the existing health disparities that adversely affect the health status of minority and vulnerable populations. There are many national organizations that offer resources to eliminate health inequities and support the increase in health care access for minority communities.

Institute for Hispanic Health

The Institute for Hispanic Health (IHH) works in close partnership with NCLR Affiliates, government partners, private funders, and other Hispanic-serving organizations to deliver quality health interventions. These interventions focus on the improvement of access to and utilization of health promotion and disease prevention programs. We are committed to providing technical assistance and science-based approaches that are culturally competent and linguistically appropriate.

Office of Minority Health

Office of Minority Health programs address disease prevention, health promotion, risk reduction, healthier lifestyle choices, use of health care services, and barriers to health care. OMH works in partnership with communities and organizations in the public and private sectors. These collaborations support a systems approach for eliminating health disparities, national planning to identify priorities, and coordinated responses through focused initiatives

National Hispanic Health Foundation

The mission of the NHHF is to improve the health of Hispanics and other underserved. With the creative energy of Hispanic researchers from around the country and to provide the insights and strategies that can translate into a healthier Hispanic population and quality care for the underserved.

Indian Health Services

The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The IHS is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people, and its goal is to raise their health status to the highest possible level.

Sources:

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2007). Protecting America’s Future: A State-by-State Look at SCHIP & Uninsured Kids.

Center for Disease Control. Minority Health Determines the Health of the Nation.