In October 2001 there was a stakeholders meeting in Washington, DC that outlined the dynamics of National Minority Health Month. The meeting was informative and went far in supporting the NMHM recognition in April 2001. You can find a list of the stakeholders and the conclusions of the meeting at www.nmhm.org.

One of the most important pieces of information we learned at the Stakeholders meeting was that, as part of their commitment to Healthy People 2010, most states have developed programs to eliminate health disparities in their community. So, as you begin to develop National Minority Health Month in your community, you will find that activities intended to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities are already underway. Out of respect for those programs, you will want to seek to create ways in which you can share goals and avenues for mutual success. The idea is to add value to ongoing efforts and to connect them to the national campaign.

Involvement of and support from the state or local health officer, local health care deliver organizations, private sector, top political leaders, offices of minority health, and key policy makers in your community significantly improves and strengthens your effort to build a stakeholder community. Effective leadership is necessary to inspire a shared vision and enlist appropriate partners and staff in the development process. Once leaders' commitments and buy-in are secured, planning structures, resources, and other essential elements often fall into place more easily. The suggestions and tools at www.nmhm.org at "stakeholder community" can help you build a strong foundation for planning. Implementation will, of course, depend on the unique characteristics of your community.


Formatting a Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

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City, State, Date — Opening Paragraph (should contain: who, what, when, where, why):

[Optional information describes NMHM:]
In his report, "Healthy People 2010" the United States Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher established 10-year health objectives for the Nation. One of the central goals of Healthy People 2010 is the elimination of health disparities among different segments of the population. National Minority Health Month (NMHM) is in response to and in support of Healthy People 2010. It is a nationally recognized campaign that serves as a launching pad for disparity-eliminating initiatives throughout the subsequent days of the year.

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