OMHHD Priorities

Purpose

This page shares key priorities the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (OMHHD) has set to address many of the needs to reduce the burden of disparities.

OMHHD works to eliminate health disparities for all individuals and keep communities healthy, safe and connected to needed resources and services. OMHHD serves with a partnership-driven approach.  
OMHHD is committed to working for every person to have the opportunity to live a healthy life, to ensure an effective health equity strategy across the Department of Health and Human Services and the state of North Carolina, and to bring together partners from various sectors to gain collective expertise and perspectives, informing next steps and creating a shared commitment to reducing health inequities. 

Background

Reducing disparities means making sure everyone has a fair chance to achieve their best health. Achieving this requires collaboration across sectors to address the social drivers of health—the conditions in which people live, work, learn, and play. These include access to good jobs, quality education, affordable and high-quality health care, expanded digital access, reliable transportation, digital access, safe housing and healthy environments.

OMHHD uses data, evidence-based interventions, evaluation, policy, communication, partnerships and workforce development to build healthier communities and improve outcomes for historically underserved populations.

Core Goals

1. Integrate disparities-focused strategies and attention to social drivers of health into NCDHHS programs, policies, data systems and funding processes.
2. Mobilize and engage partners to implement approaches that reduce health gaps and address the social and economic conditions that influence health.
3. Develop tools, systems and workforce capacity to transform infrastructure and better serve North Carolina communities.

Priorities

Each NCDHHS division and office will develop and implement action plans that align with an agency-wide disparities reduction strategy. These action plans should:

1. Focus on solutions that reduce health gaps, improve population health, and strengthen health outcomes.
2. Support the implementation of policies and strategies across DHHS that address social drivers of health and expand opportunity for well-being in historically underserved communities.
3. Advancing the science and practice of reducing health disparities through data-driven and evidence-based approaches.
4. Strengthening collaboration with local and state partners to expand opportunities for good health across North Carolina.

Health Equity Call for Action

The Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (OMHHD) has developed practical plans and models to support programs and projects that improve health across our state. We invite individuals, teams and organizations—both within and beyond NCDHHS—to place shared well-being at the center of their work.

Our community resources, created in partnership with local leaders and organizations, are designed to reduce obstacles to health. They offer a flexible foundation for building strong teams, launching impactful initiatives and guiding efforts that reflect the needs and strengths of people across North Carolina.

Together, we can create lasting change and healthier outcomes for everyone.