Office of Minority Health

Grantee Information

710 James Robertson Pkwy, Andrew Johnson 10th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-9443 (Phone)
(615) 253-8830 (Fax)
https://www.tn.gov/health.html

The Tennessee Department of Health Office of Minority Health is dedicated to eliminating health disparities among all segments of the population. It partners with many organizations to create a network of resources beneficial to minority populations.

Grant Project Information

Tennessee Institute for Healthy Communities
$140,000
Lesia Walker
(615) 741-9443
lesia.d.walker@tn.gov

Abstract

This State Partnership project aims to improve minority representation in the health professions, ensure cultural competency among providers and improve data collection methods. Tennessee has a diverse citizenry that is disproportionately affected by morbidity and mortality associated with chronic diseases. The largest health disparities exist among African Americans, Hispanics and the medically underserved. To address these issues, the project will produce an updated report on the burden of infant mortality, and also a report on the burden of childhood obesity among minority populations. The project will also maintain at least two internships yearly to encourage minority representation in the health professions and maintain a Speakers Bureau as a venue for statewide advocates and professions to speak to audiences on behalf the Tennessee Institute for Healthy Communizes (IHC). Finally, the project will maintain a Social Action Training School designed to support the development of community-based leaders who will be knowledgeable on issues such as cultural competence and workforce diversity. The intended outcomes include creating a diverse public health workforce, increasing knowledge and awareness about minority health, and improving capacity of community and faith-based organizations, public health professionals and individuals to address health disparities collaboratively. In order to determine if such outcomes are reached, quantitative and qualitative methods will be used to collect and analyze data, and the data sources including meeting minutes, training agenda and monthly progress report.

OMH objective(s) toward which the project's results most contribute (check all that apply):

• Increased awareness, education, and outreach to address racial/ethnic minority health and health disparities problems
• Improved access to, and appropriate utilization of, health and other community-based services and systems through user-centered design for racial/ethnic minorities (e.g., health IT, culturally/ linguistically appropriate services, service provider education/ training, workforce diversity)
• Strengthened leadership and coordination to leverage resources and enhance effectiveness and efficiency of individual and collective efforts (including, but not limited to, research and data)

Key Healthy People 2010 objectives or subobjectives toward which your project's results most contribute (see Appendix 3 of OMH's Evaluation Planning Guidelines):

Healthy People objectives were not identified.