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• Immigrant Health is Interpersonal

  

  By Amanda Venta, Ph.D.
  University of Houston
  Posted Sept. 9, 2024

  Waves of Latinx immigration to the United States have changed in recent decades, and our scientific literature is only beginning to catch up. Regional violence and unrest in the Northern Triangle of Central America (i.e., El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala) have pushed families to seek asylum in the U.S. Simultaneously, we have seen growth in children traveling without a guardian (i.e., unaccompanied immigrant minors) from the same region.

  Health care professionals now find large numbers of Latinx immigrant youth and families in their waiting rooms, yet relatively little published research on their mental health experiences and clinical needs exist. Latinxs, in general, are underrepresented in published research. First generation-asylum-seekers from Central America, while characterizing recent waves of immigrants and rapidly increasing their demographic share in the U.S., have been practically invisible to the scientific literature until recently.

  It was during these shifts that I began working with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to provide psychological services for unaccompanied immigrant minors. I received referrals for youth who were displaying psychological symptoms while living in ORR-approved facilities.

  Dr. Venta and colleagues look out from the international bridge connecting McAllen, Texas and Reynosa, Mexico, where many migrants try to cross into the U.S., and many have lost their lives doing so. Credit: Mark Teiwes

  High-Stakes Health Consequences

  Across hundreds of cases, the prototypic experience is that of a 16- or 17-year-old boy from the Northern Triangle. We typically see a child who is left in his home country early in life by his father, who migrated to the U.S. to establish a foothold. Shortly thereafter, the child’s mother also migrates North in search of better opportunities or to flee growing regional danger. The child grows up with several different caregivers, coping in various ways with separation from his parents and surviving adversities associated with poverty, violence, and the absence of his primary caregivers.

  In late adolescence, the child decides to make the journey to the U.S. himself—sometimes with his parents’ blessing and sometimes without. Though escape from gang and cartel threats, poverty, and educational aspirations were often relevant, the emotionally salient motivation is almost always an interpersonal one—a view, idealized as it may be—that being reunited with mom or dad would solve the many problems this child has survived during the previous 10 to 12 years. As a clinical scientist with training in child and family psychology and attachment theory, I can no longer see immigration as a partisan, political issue; I see it as an interpersonal issue—a family issue with high-stakes health consequences.

  Over the last 10 years, the bulk of my research, including a three-year longitudinal study of recently immigrated Latinx youth and an ongoing, four-year longitudinal study of Latinx asylum-seeking adults, have reinforced this message: the health and well-being of immigrants depends upon their interpersonal ties.

  Trauma exposure is nearly universal in the child, adolescent, and adult Latinx asylum-seekers we have interviewed, and clinically significant symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are the norm, with 60% of our samples showing clinical elevations. This health disparity is jarring and deserving of clinical attention, but it is not the whole picture. Indeed, our work documents that interpersonal risks like family separation due to migration are prevalent and tied to interpersonal functioning and mental health in youth and young adulthood.

  More broadly, the interpersonal experience of failed belonging among young adult Latinx immigrants is a significant predictor of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors. Discrimination, in youth and adults, demonstrates significant relations to mental health problems. Our work repeatedly shows that these interpersonal risks are potently connected to immigrant health, even in the context of surviving trauma, migration, and settlement in a new country.

  Sticking Together, Making It Through, and Thriving

  Dr. Venta talks to a young girl at a migrant camp in Reynosa, Mexico. Credit: Mark Teiwes.

  At the same time, the immigrant context is full of evidence of resilience, and interpersonal factors play a significant role on this side of the coin as well. Our work with Latinx youth and young adults demonstrates that family relationships built on trust and communication are associated with reduced mental health problems and increased prosocial behavior and resilience. Even in families who experience separation, secure relationships can persist and continue to exert positive effects on mental health.

  Familismo, a Latinx cultural value emphasizing the primacy of the family, acts as a protective factor in our research on suicide-related thoughts and behaviors and underlies the provision of social support in immigrant families. Above and beyond the family context, young migrants’ perceived connections to school and peer relationships relate significantly to their mental health.

  Our work now includes clinical encounters with hundreds of immigrant minors and face-to-face and online data collection with thousands of Latinx children, adolescents, and adults. In many of these cases, the atrocities they have survived take center stage. Their experiences are unfathomable to many of us, and their suffering— leaving their children, losing their parents, and experiencing many forms of trauma—is palpable. And yet, they speak strongly of another story—one of resilience, of sticking together, of making it through, and of thriving under circumstances they never expected.

  Our research has coalesced on the notion that this resilience hinges on the interpersonal strengths and ties that Latinx immigrants carry with them along the journey. While some of these are tangible—like available caregivers with stable documentation status—most of them are felt—mental representations of caregivers as loving and reliable despite separation and perceptions of belonging at home, school, and in the U.S. that can withstand political realities about documentation status and immigration court.

  We can all learn from these examples.

  We thrive together.

  Amanda Venta, Ph.D., is a Latina bilingual associate professor at the University of Houston. Her research focuses on the development of psychopathology in youth, with expertise in how family relationships relate to risk and resilience. Over the last decade, she has worked clinically and centered her research on the experiences of immigrant youth and families from Central America with multiple awards from NIMHD (1R01MD016897-01A1 and R15MD014302-01). She serves on the editorial boards of Attachment and Human Development, Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, and she is the associate editor of Behaviour Research and Therapy. Together, she has published 135+ scientific papers, chapters, and books.

  Disclaimer: NIMHD encourages the use of common terminology in collecting and reporting data, and this includes the standardization of racial and ethnic terms as identified in the revised OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 for federal statistics and administrative reporting.

• Breaking Barriers: Empowering Black Young Adults to Embrace COVID-19 Vaccination

  

  By Lisa Hightow-Weidman, M.D., M.P.H., and Henna Budhwani, Ph.D., M.P.H.
  Florida State University (FSU) College of Nursing
  Posted Aug. 15, 2024

  The COVID-19 pandemic was a frightening and uncertain time. Schools closed, office work went virtual, and countries shut their borders. In the early days of the pandemic, hospitals were overrun, and over six million people died; of our fallen, 13% were African American or Black. In 2020, the largest increase in deaths was among American Indian and Alaska Native (36.7%) and Black (29.7%) populations. Collectively, we held our breath, waiting for a scientific miracle.

  To respond to this global threat, an internationally coordinated effort was made to develop an effective COVID-19 vaccine. In 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency use authorizations (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Moderna vaccine. Both vaccines were mRNA-based. In 2021, the FDA issued an EUA for the Jassen vaccine, which leveraged the adenovirus vector. Historically, the vaccine development process takes about 11 years; thus, the expeditious release of three COVID-19 vaccines built using two different technologies caused skepticism, fueling hesitancy and an unwillingness to accept the vaccine.

  Understanding the Assignment

  Even before the approval of COVID-19 vaccines, misinformation and false narratives about them flooded social media, leading to widespread hesitancy. Black young adults, especially those in the southern United States, were particularly hesitant, with early estimates showing only 42% were likely to accept the vaccine. This skepticism and rampant misinformation, coupled with systemic health care barriers that harm Black populations, made it imperative to find effective ways to reach and engage Black young adults living in southern states expeditiously.

  A screenshot from the Tough Talks COVID-19 mobile application. Credit: Virtually Better, Inc

  The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), as the young people would say, understood the assignment. They released a funding announcement to promote the COVID-19 vaccine to minority populations. We saw this opportunity and knew we had to respond with all we had. Bet! We live in the southern United States, and this was our chance to contribute to the well-being of our communities. We knew time was of the essence, so we developed a proposal to adapt the “Tough Talks” digital health intervention that engaged young adults to promote HIV-related health into Tough Talks for COVID-19 or TT-C.

  The Tough Talks for COVID-19 Intervention Study

  To build trust, we had to be innovative in our approaches while also being completely real about the quickly changing landscape of COVID-19. And so, we pulled together a team of diverse scholars and community partners to inform the entire project. We took guidance and direction from experts: both leaders at minority-serving institutions and Black young adults living in southern states. We listened, we learned, and then we created the TT-C digital health interventions featuring:

  • Testaments: Black young adults living in southern states shared their personal experiences and reasons for getting vaccinated via real-world video-based digital stories.
  • Interactive Activities: We included choose-your-own-adventure games and engaging activities that explained complex biomedical concepts in relatable, youth-friendly ways.
  • Non-Stigmatizing Messaging: Collaborating with our advisors, we crafted tailored, non-judgmental, and supportive messages that addressed common misconceptions and fears without alienating participants.
  • Educational Content: We embedded comprehensive information about COVID-19 vaccines, including their safety and efficacy, and general preventative health tips, like proper handwashing techniques.

  To evaluate the TT-C intervention, we conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 360 Black young adults aged 18-29 from Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina who were unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated per current recommendations. Participants were recruited via social media. Once enrolled, participants were randomly assigned to either the TT-C or the control group. Self-reported data on vaccination and related constructs were collected at multiple points through 3-months post-randomization. Our primary outcome was COVID-19 vaccine uptake, verified by vaccine cards and survey responses. Secondary outcomes included measures of vaccine hesitancy, confidence, knowledge, and conspiracy beliefs. We tracked paradata to assess intervention engagement and were 100% accessible to our participants and partners.

  Vaccine Interventions are Game-Changers

  Preliminary observations suggest that TT-C holds significant promise. By using digital storytelling and incorporating valuable insights from young adults and expert advisor boards, TT-C resonated with Black young adults. The mobile app format ensured that participants could access information and support from anywhere using a youth-friendly modality, removing barriers like transportation and the need for clinic visits. The intervention’s culturally relevant content addressed concerns and misconceptions unique to the community’s lived experiences, fostering trust and confidence.

  Vaccination saves lives; specifically, since the 1970s, vaccination has saved 154 million lives globally. If TT-C is indeed successful at reducing vaccine hesitancy and improving vaccine knowledge, there will be a strong case for adapting TT-C to promote other vaccines like influenza and HPV to avert preventable diseases, such as cervical cancer. By breaking down structural barriers and giving those we aim to support a true voice in the scientific process, we can foster trust, fight misinformation, and reduce vaccine hesitancy. Together, hand in hand, we can create a healthier future by improving rates of life-saving vaccinations.

  Learn More

  For more information on this project, visit our website and follow us on social media for updates on TT-C and our other health equity initiatives and success stories.

  Lisa Hightow-Weidman, M.D., M.P.H., and Henna Budhwani, Ph.D., M.P.H., are co-principal investigators of the Tough Talks for COVID-19 study.

  Dr. Hightow-Weidman is a Distinguished and Endowed McKenzie Professor at the Florida State University (FSU) College of Nursing. She is the founding director of the Institute on Digital Health and Innovation and the contact PI of the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Intervention (ATN) Scientific Leadership Center.

  Dr. Budhwani is a professor at the FSU College of Nursing and leads the Institute on Digital Health and Innovation’s Intervention Research and Implementation Science Hub. A medical sociologist by training, Dr. Budhwani’s research focuses on addressing health inequities among adolescents and young adults via pragmatic clinical trials.

• African American Faith Communities: Foundations for Mental Wellness

  

  By Rebecca Selove, Ph.D., M.P.H.
  With contributors Rev. Neely Williams and Rev. Dr. Omaràn D. Lee
  Posted July 31, 2024

  Left to right, Dr. Rebecca Selove, Rev. Neely Williams, Rev. Dr. Omaràn D. Lee

  The role of the church in African Americans’ lives and communities is immense and multi-faceted. In his recent book, The Black Church, Henry Louis Gates wrote, “The Black Church was the cultural cauldron that Black people created to combat a system designed in every way to crush their spirit. Collectively and with enormous effort, they refused to allow that to happen.”

  A 2021 survey indicates that 47% of Black Americans attend church at least once a week, more than any other racial and ethnic group, and more than half of Black Americans who participate in church activities attend congregations that they identify as a Black church. These powerful and potent community centers’ historical and social roles align with NIMHD’s mission to improve minority health and reduce health disparities. They are addressing mental health needs as part of their dedication to supporting the health of their community’s soul. Researchers who focus on addressing African American health must engage leaders of these congregations as teachers and mentors for their research endeavors. These leaders already know much of what scientists want to understand.

  Sabbath services in Black churches are often joyful expressions of gratitude and support. Messages from the pulpit and choir that acknowledge challenges, such as physical suffering, financial stress, grief, and anxiety, are offered in the overarching context of appreciation for the support, power, and goodness of God.

  As someone of European Jewish ancestry, my education about Black churches began fairly recently. I am a member of the research team for the NIMHD’s Engaging Partners in Caring Communities (EPICC) project designed to build the capacity of congregations that serve African American communities to implement health promotion programs. I have enjoyed being welcomed into uplifting and inspiring Sunday morning services with our partners. “Good morning, Church” is a frequent greeting to all who are gathered in the sanctuary – everyone is included in the loving welcome.

  At the same time that I have been experiencing the joy and warmth of the African American faith community, my faith leader partners and teachers in the EPICC project have been sharing their concerns about mental health issues affecting many in the African American community. They tell me about being called to address high levels of suffering associated with bereavement, suicide, substance use disorders, anxiety, depression, and youth and family violence. Pastors feel responsible for addressing these concerns while being very aware that the larger community offers inadequate support and resources that are sensitive to the needs and culture of African Americans. They note disparities in mortality associated with COVID-19 in African American communities, anxiety about access to trustworthy healthcare, and isolation associated with virtual participation in church activities during the pandemic.

  The research literature reflects their leadership in health equity, social justice activism, and community-academic partnerships emerging to build on the long-standing strengths and mission of faith communities. Pastoral care and church-based programs to address depression and alcohol use disorders, and to reduce mental health stigma are examples.

  At a recent gathering of leaders from nine EPICC partner congregations, Ms. Gwen Hamer from the Tennessee Department of Health and Mr. Sheldon Walker of Davidson County Metro Health Department described the Suicide Prevention and the African American Faith Communities Coalition (SPAAFCC), which started in 2009. Gwen told us, “… leaders in the African American faith communities… are one of the first people to be contacted when one of their parishioners is contemplating suicide or if a family member or friend of someone who has died by suicide needs comfort and encouragement. We felt their input in developing strategies to raise suicide prevention awareness and to help save lives from suicide in their faith communities was absolutely vital.”

  SPAAFC provides monthly virtual meetings for members to support one another, as well as training in programs such as Question, Persuade, and Refer also known as the QPR Gatekeeper Training.

  Our EPICC project team benefits from the guidance of two leaders in the Nashville African American faith community. Rev. Neely Williams has a long history of community advocacy and collaboration with academic researchers. Rev. Williams counsels our EPICC research staff to listen for our faith community partners’ strengths and to acknowledge the insights and priorities of church leaders. Rev. Dr. Omaràn D. Lee, a pastor and mental health practitioner currently serving as regional director of the Tennessee Governor’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative, helped develop the EPICC proposal. He leads programs through the Reach One, Teach One Foundation and Centers for Well-Being to support pastors and faith leaders so they can better serve their congregations.

  Faith community leaders have been providing a foundation for mental wellness for centuries, building on the considerable strength and wisdom of their spiritual traditions, their response to being called to serve their congregations, and their deep compassion for fellow human beings. We are grateful to be invited to join them in this effort.

  Rebecca Selove, Ph.D., M.P.H., is director of the Center for Prevention Research at Tennessee State University. She has served as a clinical psychologist in a variety of community settings and is currently focusing on implementation science and community-engaged research to promote health equity.

  Rev. Neely Williams is a minister, a community advocate, and a community organizer who has actively participated in the work of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) since its inception over 10 years ago. She serves as a consultant to the EPICC project’s research and community partner staff, lifting and articulating the community perspective on health disparities and health equity.

  Rev. Dr. Omaràn Lee, formerly the director of the Congregational Health Network (CHN), helped develop the funding proposal for EPICC. He is a pastor, a pastoral counselor, and regional director of the Tennessee Governor’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative, where he oversees the collaboration and coordination of faith-based and community organizations to address social issues and improve the quality of life for Tennesseans.

• Optimizing Health for Immigrant Populations: When One Thing Stands, Another Thing Stands Beside It

  

  By Yewande Oladeinde, Ph.D.
  National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
  Posted June 10, 2024

  Most immigrants have frames of reference or ways of knowing based on their immigrant experience that confer certain health advantages in positive and unique ways, often known as the “healthy immigrant effect” or the “immigrant paradox.” To better understand the rationale behind why and how immigrants seek care, we need to know “what are those things that stand and what are the other things that stand beside them," as immigrants try to navigate a fragmented health care system that was not built for them.

  The quote referenced above by Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe refers to the "reality of a cultural multiverse rather than a cultural universe." As public health professionals, we often think about developing and implementing sustainable interventions that will lead to improved health outcomes. As noble as this may sound, many public health professionals design interventions that fail to consider the cultural contexts within which the behaviors and practices they are trying to change are formed and from which they thrive. Failure to do so leads to interventions that are unsustainable at best and, at worst, ineffective.

  Dr. Yewande Oladeinde wearing traditional Nigerian gele head wrap made with aso-oke fabric and dress made with ankara fabric.

  Highlighting Cultural Assets

  Immigrant Heritage Month is about celebrating diversity and one's cultural heritage. It’s also about highlighting the cultural assets people bring to their health that can then be used to develop programs that end disparities while optimizing health for all people.

  Take the story of Kemi, for example, a first-generation immigrant woman rooted in the Yoruba culture of Nigeria and an American anchored in the African American experience. Kemi has lived in the United States for over two decades despite spending her formative years in her home country of Nigeria. To remain connected to her Nigerian roots, she and her family are active members of a cultural organization for Nigerians in her community. Even though Kemi has lived in the United States for over two decades, she is very much rooted in her Yoruba culture.

  Kemi was experiencing symptoms of extreme fatigue, a feverish feeling, and other flu-like symptoms. At the time when she was experiencing these symptoms, she wanted to see a doctor, but she heard the news of how nobody was allowed to accompany loved ones to the hospital. People were asked to literally drop off their loved ones to an unknown fate and leave them there. Because of this rule, Kemi decided to stay home and have her loved ones care for her.

  Kemi called her mother in Nigeria to inform her about her symptoms and to ask for the agbo, a Yoruba term for a medicinal herbal remedy that is commonly used for feverish conditions. Her mother gave her the names of the herbs she needed, the specified quantities, and the preparation instructions. Her husband tried to purchase the medicinal herbs recommended, but many of them were unavailable in the United States. Kemi’s mother shipped the agbo remedy from Nigeria. Kemi drank a 4- to 8-ounce cup of the medicinal herbs each day. After about two weeks, her symptoms abated.

  Prior to this incident, Kemi used Western allopathic medicine often. However, when she was in a dire health situation, and some of the allopathic treatments recommended to her were not working, she knew she had to rely on “those other things that seek to stand beside that one thing,” such as traditional cultural practices and values related to healing that sustained prior generations, and reliance on the wisdom and divine power of one’s mother.

  When Kemi’s friends spoke to her about possibly seeking care as her symptoms got serious, she stated, ”What is the point of going to the hospital and being subjected to trial-and-error treatment when I can rely on what mothers and grandmothers in my culture have used for several generations that worked for them?” She relied on her cultural identity and the value of what had worked for previous generations. This is one of the reasons why it is important to build and maintain trust with the medical community and between people from other racial and ethnic minority communities, as cultural factors may influence their perceptions of health and uptake of recommended guidelines of care.

  As we continue to celebrate our diversity and cultural heritage this month, we must remember to:

  • Pay attention to the perceptions that feed people’s beliefs and the broader contexts where these perceptions emerge and from which they thrive. People’s perceptions, be they sociocultural, political, or historical, do not emerge from a vacuum.
  • Keep indigenous ways of knowing, which have helped our ancestors thrive. Chinua Achebe's quote speaks to the essence of multiple ways of knowing, which often coexist within an individual and may sometimes complement or oppose more popular views.
  • Understand that there is no singular worldview or universal belief that resides within an individual, and trying to silence other narratives or beliefs would be detrimental to addressing pressing health challenges faced by immigrants in the United States.
  • Encourage and empower alternate perspectives of people from other cultures, the things they value, and the unique qualities they acknowledge while leveraging their assets for optimal health.

  Yewande Oladeinde, Ph.D., is a social and behavioral science administrator in the Division of Clinical and Health Services Research at NIMHD. Her research focuses on understanding the role culture plays in shaping people’s perceptions of health and illness, and how it influences their choices and their behaviors, with a goal of implementing culturally and contextually appropriate interventions. Dr. Oladeinde was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and she is from the Yoruba ethnic group.

  Dr. Oladeinde writes periodically for a local Maryland newspaper and aspects of this story were previously published there.

• Be the Source for Better Health

  

  By CAPT Tarsha Cavanaugh, Ph.D., M.S.W., LGSW
  Office of Minority Health
  Posted April 26, 2024

  

  We are nearing the end of National Minority Health Month (NMHM), an annual observance led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH). NMHM is a time for us all to reflect on the role we can play in advancing health equity and eliminating health disparities in racial and ethnic minority and American Indian/Alaska Native populations.

  This year the theme Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections, emphasizes the role social determinants of health (SDOH), cultural competency, and humility play in advancing health equity.

  At OMH we are committed to furthering this effort by providing resources that support federal and community-based partners’ provision of quality, equitable, and respectful care and services that acknowledge the diverse cultural beliefs, practices, and linguistic preferences among the populations we serve.

  But let’s talk more about what health disparities are and how you can Be the Source for Better Health in your community.

  Understand Health Disparities

  Health disparities among minority communities are persistent and multifaceted. We define them as “differences in health that are closely linked to the social determinants of health (SDOH).” SDOH are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.

  One of the many ways OMH works to address these disparities is through the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care. The Standards are a roadmap for improving the quality of care by providing equitable, understandable, and respectful care and services that pay keen attention to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, health literacy, and communication styles.

  By tailoring services to an individual's cultural and language preferences, you can help bring about positive health outcomes for diverse populations.

  Be a Wellness Champion

  Wellness Champions are federal and community partners committed to addressing the root causes of health disparities while advancing holistic approaches to achieve optimal health within racial and ethnic minority and American Indian/Alaska Native communities. Through education, outreach, and policy advocacy, they serve as trusted messengers empowering individuals to take charge of their health and navigate healthcare systems effectively.

  One type of Wellness Champion OMH supports is Community Health Workers (CHWs). CHWs often live within the communities they serve and broaden community connections to valuable health resources. They advocate for specific population needs (i.e., housing, food security), coordinate care at all levels, provide basic health screenings, and much more.

  While CHWs are a great example of Wellness Champions, it is important to remember that anyone can be a Wellness Champion committed to promoting good health habits with your friends, family, and local community.

  Embrace Self-Care and Self-Compassion

  Encouraging self-care and self-compassion in both the populations we serve but also for ourselves is also an important element of achieving health equity. But equally as important is understanding that we all have unique health needs when it comes to these practices. Each person’s ‘healthiest self’ is different and influenced by SDOH.

  Take the time to reflect on your personal wellness in areas such as your lived environment, relationships, and emotional health. Utilize resources like the NIH Your Healthiest Self: Wellness Toolkits to embrace self-care while navigating your whole-health journey and encourage others to do the same. Better understanding the knowledge gaps in our own health empowers us to seek out resources or trusted partners that can help improve our health status.

  Embracing self-care or compassion practices, through activities such as mindfulness, exercise, or creative expression has the potential to nurture resilience and improve your well-being.

  Conclusion

  National Minority Health Month calls upon us to recognize the intersecting factors that contribute to poor health outcomes and work to overcome these barriers. When all receive quality, equitable, and respectful care and services that are responsive to our cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, economic and environmental circumstances, and health literacy levels, the health and well-being of our families, communities and nation will soar.

  Let’s keep working together in NMHM and beyond to Be the Source for Better Health for populations we serve by advancing sustainable policies, programs, and practices that work towards eliminating health disparities and prioritize the achievement of health equity.

  Resources

  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2030.

  Office of Minority Health. National CLAS Standards. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

  Bureau of Labor Statistics. Community Health Workers. U.S. Department of Labor.

  National Institutes of Health. Your Healthiest Self: Wellness Toolkits. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

  CAPT Tarsha Cavanaugh, Ph.D., M.S.W., LGSW, is Principal Deputy Director at the Office of Minority Health.