Health Matters: 2015 Illinois Minority Health Efforts

LISLE  – Building on the idea that community empowerment is one of the strongest strategies to improve public health, the 2015 Illinois Minority Health Conference, hosted by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Center for Minority Health Services and the Illinois Public Health Association earlier this week, offered sessions focused on community health workers, strategies to develop effective partnerships, and conducting outreach to specific minority populations. 

Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinneti opened the conference on March 24, 2015, at the Hilton Lisle/Naperville, with the announcement that Governor Bruce Rauner had proclaimed April to be Minority Health Month.  IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. followed Lt. Governor Sanguinneti’s remarks with his keynote address highlighting health gains in the 30 years since the release of then Secretary of Health and Human Services Margaret M. Heckler’s report on the nation’s health, which for the first time highlighted the significant health disparities between whites and racial minorities in the United States. 
 
“While addressing health disparities is a key priority for our agency, it is important to acknowledge the significant improvements in health status for our state’s residents,” said Shah.  “This year’s Minority Health Conference and our subsequent activities for Minority Health Month in April will spotlight effective systems, strategies, and partnerships to achieve our ultimate vision of health equity in Illinois.”

National Minority Health Month is an inclusive initiative addressing health needs of minority populations with the aim of strengthening the capacities of local communities to eliminate the disproportionate burden of premature death and preventable illness in minority populations.  These initiatives focus on prevention, early detection, and control of disease complications.  This year’s theme, 30 years of Advancing Health Equity - The Heckler Report: A Force for Ending Health Disparities, aligns with the conference’s goals and objectives as well as IDPH’s strategic direction.  Governor Rauner’s proclamation demonstrates Illinois’ continued commitment to eliminating health disparities and promoting comprehensive and culturally competent health care access for all Illinoisans.

The conference featured live webcasts of select sessions, and will be available on the IDPH website.