Skip to search box Skip to main content
Text Only Version

Our Mission

Suffolk County, with a size of 900 square miles and 2/3 of the land mass of Long Island, is known for its open lands, beaches, and relative tranquility. Suffolk is also surprisingly diverse; with a total population of approximately 1.5 million residents, 7.4% are African-American, 17% Hispanic/Latino, 3.4% Asian, and 1% Native American1. Yet despite its apparent relative wealth, Suffolk has several areas with many residents living at or below the federal poverty level. Many of these residents are from minority groups, who also suffer disproportionately from heart disease & strokes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, hypertension, and higher infant mortality rates.

The goal of the Suffolk County Office of Minority Health (OMH) is to address existing health disparities and improve the health of minorities by: raising awareness of health issues through educational programs and events; working to improve access to quality primary care services and health insurance; and ensuring that our residents receive health care in a culturally sensitive and appropriate manner. Through partnerships and collaborations with various organizations based in Suffolk County, we are not only helping people to live longer, healthier lives but aiding in the improvement of their quality of life.

 

Launched in December of 2005, the Office focuses on eliminating the six major health disparities identified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC): Cancer, Diabetes, Immunizations, Infant Mortality, Heart Disease/Stroke, and HIV/AIDS. The Office primarily serves the five federally recognized racial and ethnic minorities in Suffolk County:

  • African Americans / Blacks
  • Hispanics / Latinos
  • Asians
  • American Indians / Native Americans
  • Native American / Pacific Islanders

The mission of the Office of Minority Health (OMH) is to improve health outcomes and eliminate existing health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities in Suffolk County.


The Goals of OMH
  • Increase healthcare access for racial and ethnic minorities
  • Collaborate with community and faith based organizations about existing health disparities
  • Improve the cultural competency level of all professional staff within the Suffolk County Department of Health Services
  • Implement health promotion and education programs in key grassroot communities in Suffolk County
  • Collect and analyze data on racial and ethnic minorities to better determine the health needs of these communities in Suffolk County
OMH Projects and Programs

The projects and programs developed by OMH will focus on increasing awareness and understanding of the major health problems as well as inform, educate and empower racial and ethnic minorities about health services and resources available in Suffolk County in order to create a greater impact in the delivery, understanding and importance of health information and disease. Many events are developed in a culturally appropriate and acceptable manner.

Cultural Competency

Local public health departments are especially responsible for delivering health care and services in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner since many of the communities they serve carry the heaviest burden from disease in this society. Many racial and ethnic minorities make up these communities and encounter barriers relating to cultural misunderstanding and miscommunication when obtaining or receiving health service.

Culture and language influence health, healing, and wellness beliefs; delivery of health services by providers; behaviors of patients/consumers; and perceptions about causes of diseases and cures of diseases. Overall, cultural and linguistic competence influences the a local health department’s objectives of providing quality medical care and promoting healthy behavior.

The SCDHS OMH seeks to address existing health inequities for racial and ethnic minorities and improve positive health outcomes for all patients who receive services within the Health Department. Since becoming a culturally and linguistically competent organization or individual is a long-term and on-going process, OMH developed an action plan in order to provide a systematic strategy for the implementation of CLAS.

Programs and Events

    Suffolk Showers – ‘A Healthy Baby Begins with You’

    • Winner of 2010 National Association of Counties (NACo) award.
    • The Suffolk Showers events are held quarterly in different parts of the County in an effort to address the disparity in infant mortality noted amongst African American and Latino populations.

    SHOPs (Suffolk Health Outreach Partnerships)

    • Winner of 2009 NACo award.
    • The SHOPs program collaborates with over 20 minority-owned beauty salons and barber shops in an effort to educate individuals about health issues facing minority communities.

    Annual ‘Taking the Road to Eliminate Health Disparities’ Conferences

    • The highlight of the fall season, these conferences are geared towards public health professionals and community leaders, and have covered such topics as an overview of health disparities, HIV/AIDS, obesity, and cultural competency & language access.

    Suffolk County Gospel Health Fest

    • Suffolk County’s signature Black History Month event, it features quality Gospel music, dance, and presentations in honor of Black History Month in the context of a large community health fair.

    Soccer Health Carnival

    • Combines recreational soccer games with live music and a large community health fair.

    1 Based on 2010 Census data.

Health Disparities

 What is a health disparity?

Differences in the presence of disease, health outcomes or access to health care between certain populations. The Office of Minority in Suffolk County and across the country deal with populations relating to racial and ethnic minorities.

 Why do health disparities exist?
  • Barriers in healthcare access and delivery
    • Cultural or language barriers
      • Lack of interpretation services for non- English speaking patients
      • Low health literacy – unable to read or understand medical information
      • Many physicians are not skilled, familiar, or comfortable in communicating with people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds.
      • Socioeconomic
      • Difference in education and income
      • Differences in living environments
    • Health Literacy
      • The ability to read, understand and act on health information
      • The single best predictor of health status
        • ½ of the people in the United States are functionally or marginally illiterate
        • Most adults read on and 8th-9th grade reading level, however most health care materials are written at a 10th grade level or higher
      Provider racism and bias
      • Providers’ perceptions and attitudes toward patients are often influenced in subtle ways by patient race or ethnicity
      Other Barriers to Services and Treatment for minority populations include:
      • Mistrust and fear of treatment
      • Lack of availability of services\Cost
      • Differences in language and communication
      • Racism and discrimination
      • Fragmentation of services
      • Social stigma
 What are some of the leading health disparities across the country and County?
HIV/AIDS
  • Nationally:
    • African Americans make up 13% of the total U.S. population, but they account for more than 50% of the HIV/AIDS cases.
    • American Indians/Alaska Natives have a 40% higher AIDS rate than non-Hispanic white counterparts.
    • Asian/Pacific Islanders have lower AIDS rates than non- Hispanic white counterparts and they are less likely to die of HIV/AIDS.
    • Hispanics/Latinos account for more than 15% of HIV/AIDS cases.
  • Suffolk County:
    • African Americans are 17 times more likely to die from AIDS than Whites.
    • Hispanics are 5 times more likely to die from AIDS than Whites.
Cancer
  • Nationally:
    • African American men were 1.5 times more likely to have new cases of lung and prostate cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white men. African American women were 2.6 times as likely to have been diagnosed with stomach cancer, and they were 2.3 times more likely to die from stomach cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white women.
    • American Indians/Alaska Native men have a 30% higher chance of being diagnosed with stomach and liver cancer than white men.
    • American Indian women were 1.9 times as likely to die from cervical cancer compared to white women.
    • Asian/Pacific Islander men and women have higher incidence and mortality rates for stomach and liver cancer.
    • Hispanic men and women have higher incidence rates for stomach and liver cancer. Hispanic women were 2.2 times more likely as non-Hispanic white women.
  • Suffolk County
    • African Americans are more likely to die from cancer. African American men are 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed and 3 times more likely to die from prostate cancer than whites.

Cardiovascular disease ( Heart Attack, Strokes)

  • Nationally:
    • African Americans were 1.5 times as likely as non-Hispanic whites to have high blood pressure. African American men are more likely to die from heart disease, as compared to non-Hispanic men. African American women are 1.6 times as likely as non-Hispanic whites to be obese.
    • American Indians/Alaska Native adults were 2.3 times as likely as white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes and are 1.6 times more likely to have high blood pressure.
    • Asian/Pacific Islander adults are less likely than white adults to have heart disease and they are less likely to die from heart disease compared to non-Hispanic whites.
    • In 2003, Hispanics were 20% less likely to have heart disease, as compared to non-Hispanic whites.
Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for everyone in Suffolk County.
Diabetes
  • Nationally:
    • African American adults were 2.4 times more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes. In 2002, diabetic African Americans were 1.5 times as likely as diabetic whites to be hospitalized.
    • American Indians/ Alaska Native adults are 1.2 times as likely as white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes and in 2002 were 1.9 times as likely as non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes.
    • Hispanics were 20% less likely to die from heart disease as compared to non-Hispanic whites in 2001.
  • Suffolk County:
    • African Americans are 1.8 times more likely to die from diabetes than whites.
    • Hispanics are at a high risk for disease and death.
Infant Mortality
  • The infant mortality rate for African American infants was more than double the rate for white infants. American Indian/ Alaska Natives have 1.5 times higher infant mortality rate than whites. Puerto Rican infants were 2.2 times more likely to die from causes related to low birth weight, compared to white infants.
Immunization
  • Only 50% of older African Americans and Hispanics received the Influenza "flu" vaccination.
  • Only a little over a third (30%) of African Americans and Hispanics received the Pneumococcal "pneumonia" shot.
 What can be done to minimize health disparities?
  • Improve access to quality care that is culturally competent.
  • Increase Workforce Diversity in Health
  • Empower communities with information to help improve access.

Suffolk County Government

H. Lee Dennison Bldg

100 Veterans Memorial Hwy
P.O. Box 6100
Hauppauge, NY 11788

Riverhead County Center

County Road 51
Riverhead, NY 11901