National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month!

This annual observance began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week “to pay special tribute to the Hispanic tradition.” In 1988, Congress passed Public Law 100-402, officially establishing the observance as National Hispanic Heritage Month and providing an opportunity to:

• Recognize the many ways in which Hispanic/Latino histories, cultures, and contributions have helped shape all aspects of life in the United States.
• Bring awareness to the preventable chronic health conditions that disproportionally impact Hispanic/Latinos compared to the other populations.
• Support and advance the health priorities of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Administration to improve the health and well-being of all Americans.

Read this year’s Presidential Proclamation: National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2025.

Improving Health Outcomes Through Communities and Connections

This year, the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month with its theme, Improving Health Outcomes Through Communities and Connections. This theme focuses on improving health outcomes for Hispanic/Latino populations by preventing chronic disease through community-level support and healthy lifestyles.

HHS OMH Resources

National Hispanic Heritage Month Toolkit

The National Hispanic Heritage Month Toolkit is designed to help individuals and organizations celebrate the observance and spread awareness about health gaps among Hispanic/Latinos in the U.S. Download, share, and customize the content in this toolkit to meet the unique needs of your audiences.

Hispanic/Latino Population Profile

HHS OMH compiles and maintains data on Hispanic/Latino health that includes information on chronic diseases and other health conditions. Use our Hispanic/Latino Population Profile to help your efforts in preventing chronic disease among Hispanics/Latinos and learn about social, economic, and environmental factors that impact Hispanic/Latino health.

OMH Resource Center and Knowledge Center

Looking for information and resources related to Hispanic/Latino health? Visit the HHS OMH Resource Center and Knowledge Center, where Information Specialists can assist you with research on Hispanic/Latino health literature, funding opportunities, and more. Services are available in both English and Spanish.

National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

September is also National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Hispanics/Latinos make up about 3%–9% of the estimated 100,000 people in the U.S. living with sickle cell disease (SCD), a complex group of inherited blood disorders associated with debilitating pain and complications that can affect the entire body. The HHS OMH National Sickle Cell Awareness Month webpage has resources and information you can use to spread awareness about SCD and help create supportive communities for individuals with SCD.

#PreventChronicDiseases

Hispanics/Latinos are at risk for certain preventable chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Keep reading to learn more about how these conditions are impacting Hispanic/Latino health and discover actionable resources for addressing and preventing these chronic conditions. Follow and tag OMH (@MinorityHealth) on X, Instagram, and Facebook, and let us know what tools and resources you find helpful to #PreventChronicDiseases.

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for Hispanic/Latino adults.

• Visit MedlinePlus for Spanish-language prevention strategies. Also available in English.
• Visit the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s The Heart Truth website for resources to bring greater attention to heart disease and help those in your community prevent heart disease.

In 2024, Hispanic/Latino adults were more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes (11.3%) compared to the total U.S. population (10%). About 90% to 95% of adult diabetes diagnoses are type 2 diabetes, which, in many cases, can be prevented through healthier lifestyles.

• Visit MedlinePlus for Spanish-language prevention strategies. Also available in English.
• Visit the National Diabetes Prevention Program for materials to help spread prevention awareness for your Hispanic/Latino audiences.

In 2023, Hispanic/Latino high school students, especially male students, had some of the highest obesity rates compared to high schoolers of other populations. Hispanic/Latino male students were nearly twice as likely to be obese compared to Hispanic/Latino female students.

• Visit MedlinePlus for Spanish-language information on obesity screenings. Also available in English.
• Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s SNAP-Ed Library for Spanish-language recipes, cookbooks, and recipe booklets, many developed by SNAP-Ed programs. Also available in English.