Healthy Holiday Baking

During the holiday season, families often gather together to celebrate, which is accompanied by enjoying an assortment baked food. Family members and loved ones are tempted to taste uncooked baked goods, such as cookie dough or cake batter, but it is strongly encouraged that this practice is avoided as you can become sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides safety tips to help you and your family stay safe when handling raw dough. Visit CDC’s Say No To Raw Dough website for more information on safe food handling practices when baking with raw ingredients.

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Fight Flu

Influenza (flu) season is heightened during the fall and winter, and as noted in a blog by HHS Assistant Secretary for Health ADM Brett P. Giroir “Americans experienced one of the most severe flu seasons in four decades last year.” The flu is highly contagious and causes an array of symptoms such as mild to severe fever, body aches, and chest or head congestion. As a preventative measure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. Learn more about the benefits of the flu vaccination and how you can protect you and your family from the flu virus on the CDC Prevent Seasonal Flu website. Read more about why ADM Brett P. Giroir advises against missing the yearly flu vaccine by visiting the Office of Minority Health blog, Never Miss a Flu Vaccine. Here Are the Reasons #WhyIFightFlu Click Here

National Safe Toys and Giving Month

December is prime time for gift shopping for loved ones. In particular, all are encouraged to pay close attention to the toys that are purchased and gifted to children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children’s toys may be exposed to lead. Toys that have been made in other countries and then imported into the United States or antique toys and collectibles passed down through generations increase risk the risk for children to lead exposure. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issues year-round recalls of toys that could potentially expose children to lead. For more information on the most recent toy recalls, visit the United States Consumer Safety Commission (CPSC) website. Click Here

National CLAS Standards Report

The Office of Minority Health (OMH) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has developed a framework and toolkit to guide health care organizations' efforts in evaluating their implementation of the National CLAS Standards. The toolkit distills the elements of the framework and can help guide evaluations across four settings including ambulatory care, behavioral health, hospitals and public health. Visit our OMH Think Cultural Health page to read the National CLAS Standards report and toolkit. Click Here

Partnerships In Action

Earlier this year, during National Minority Health Month 2018, the Office of Minority Health (OMH) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was proud to join with organizations and health advocates across the country to promote the theme for the observance – Partnering for Health Equity.  As part of that celebration, OMH is proud to present the stories of some of the people and organizations working within their communities to reduce health disparities and advance health equity.  Visit our OMH Partnerships in Action page to read about some of the important work happening in communities across the country. Click Here

Knowledge Center

The Knowledge Center online library catalog includes materials that illustrate disparities in influenza vaccination rates as well as disparities in the health impacts of influenza on minority populations. To learn more, search here. In recognition of influenza (flu) season awareness, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) flu facts website for more information on 2018-2019 flu recommendations. Click Here

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