Media Release

FOR: Immediate Release
DATE: April 17, 2006
CONTACT: Carrie Bridges, Acting Chief, Office of Minority Health (401-222-4872)

Rhode Island Celebrates National Minority Health Month in April
HEALTH and Community Agencies Partner to Eliminate Health Disparities

National Minority Health Month is here! April is National Minority Health Month (NMHM), a nationally-recognized campaign to raise awareness of racial and ethnic health disparities and to launch year-round initiatives to eliminate these disparities. The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) is joining this public education effort, reinforcing the state’s commitment to eliminate health disparities.

Did you know that:

• Racial and ethnic minorities make up 18% of Rhode Island’s population?
• Minorities in Rhode Island are less likely than non-minorities to have an ongoing source of health care?
• Native Americans, African-Americans, and Hispanics/Latinos have significantly higher rates of overweight and obesity than the average for the state?
• Minorities develop cancer, HIV, diabetes, heart disease and other life threatening illnesses in much larger numbers than their non-minority counterparts?

The Rhode Island Department of Health is working towards bridging the gaps in the health status of minority groups. As the theme of this month’s celebration, HEALTH’s Office of Minority Health is focusing on the National Standards for the Provision of Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care Settings (CLAS Standards). The CLAS Standards are issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, and are intended to guide practices related to language access and cultural competency in the delivery of health services.

“Implementing the CLAS standards at HEALTH is an important step in the right direction,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “We have been working with health care providers and community partners to help them identify ways of implementing the CLAS standards in their settings. Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services will help us reduce the existing health disparities among Rhode Islanders,” he added.

HEALTH is sponsoring two CLAS-related events at the Radisson Airport Hotel Providence (2081 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886):

• Diversity Dialogues: Building Culturally & Linguistically Competent Healthcare Services April 24, 2006, 8:30am–1:30pm
• Implementing the CLAS Standards: Lessons from Temple University Health System May 8, 2006, 8:00 am–10:00 am

In addition to these events, HEALTH’s Office of Minority Health developed a month-long Calendar of Events , listing many health education and health promotion activities organized by partners across the state.

For more information on these events and National Minority Health Month, visit HEALTH’s Office of Minority Health’s newly redesigned website at www.health.ri.gov/chic/minority/.

Eliminate racial & ethnic health disparities by 2010. Be part of the solution. Join us!!!