Minority Health

Cleveland is a city well known for ethnic diversity and a unique blend of rich cultural heritages.  Within the city limits are neighborhoods that are distinct in that residents take care to preserve cultural and ethnic identities. 

Cleveland has much to offer in the way of diversity, but despite the strengths of these differences, minorities still face a number of disadvantages and inequalities when it comes to health and healthcare. 

For example, the average age-adjusted death rate for African-Americans in our area was 20% higher than that of whites.*  This is just one of many examples that demonstrate the problem of health disparities in Greater Cleveland and the need to address them.

Office of Minority Health

With generous support from the Ohio Commission on Minority Health, the Cleveland Department of Public Health houses the newly formed Cleveland Office of Minority Health.  The Office's priorities in its first year include:

• Coordinating and overseeing the Ohio Commission on Minority Health's activities in Greater Cleveland
• Enhancing data collection and reporting on minority health in Cleveland
• Identifying and addressing local health disparity needs
• Mobilizing the community to collaborate on minority health related issues

Minority Health Month

Every April, the City of Cleveland, the Cleveland Department of Public Health and the Ohio Commission on Minority Health are pleased to celebrate Minority Health Month. 

Created in April 1989, Ohio's Minority Health Month is designed to be a 30-day, high visibility, health promotion and disease prevention campaign addressing chronic disease and health disparities.

Minority Health Resources

• History of National Minority Health Month 
• Quick facts about minority health and health disparities in asthma, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and infant mortality
• National Office of Minority Health 
• Ohio Commission on Minority Health

* Source: The Center for Community Solutions and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (June 2005).  Cuyahoga County's Uninsured and the Problems They Face.   Retrieved July 28, 2007 from The Center for Community Solutions Web Site  http://www.communitysolutions.com