US Department of Health and Human Services is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.  The DEPARTMENT includes more than 300 programs, covering a wide spectrum of activities.

National Library of Medicine is the world's largest medical resource

National Institutes of Health goal is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability, from the rarest genetic disorder to the common cold. The NIH mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone. NIH works toward that mission by: conducting research in its own laboratories; supporting the research of non-Federal scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions throughout the country and abroad; helping in the training of research investigators; and fostering communication of medical and health sciences information.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recognized as the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people - at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships. CDC serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration mission is to save lives, prevent injuries and protect the health of America's workers. To accomplish this, federal and state governments must work in partnership with the more than 100 million working men and women and their six and a half million employers who are covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
 

US Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.

US Department of Agriculture mission is to enhance the quality of life for the American people by supporting production of agriculture: ensuring a safe, affordable, nutritious, and accessible food supply; caring for agricultural, forest, and range lands; supporting sound development of rural communities;  providing economic opportunities for farm and rural residents;  expanding global markets for agricultural and forest products and services ; and working to reduce hunger in America and throughout the world. USDA Vision: A healthy and productive Nation in harmony with the land.

Department of Veterans Affairs goal is to provide excellence in patient care, veterans' benefits and customer satisfaction.

Environmental Protection Agency mission is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment — air, water, and land — upon which life depends. For 30 years, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.

Office of the Surgeon General, under the direction of the Surgeon General, oversees the 6,000-member Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and provides support for the Surgeon General in the accomplishment of his other duties.  The Office is part of the Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Office of Public Health and Science  is under the direction of the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH), who serves as the Secretary's primary advisor on matters involving the nation's public health and oversees HHS' U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) for the Secretary. The PHS is comprised of the eight health agency divisions of HHS and the Commissioned Corps, a uniformed service of more than 6,000 health professionals who serve at HHS and other federal agencies.

HEALTH DISPARITIES

AMSA

American Medical Student Association "Health Disparities in the United States"

Office of Minority Health  "Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities"

American Public Health Association partnership to eliminate ethnic racial and ethnic health disparities

Indian Health Service is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The provision of health services to members of federally-recognized tribes grew out of the special government-to-government relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes. This relationship, established in 1787, is based on Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, and has been given form and substance by numerous treaties, laws, Supreme Court decisions, and Executive Orders. The IHS is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people, and its goal is to raise their health status to the highest possible level. The IHS currently provides health services to approximately 1.5 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to more than 557 federally recognized tribes in 35 states.

Institute of Medicine Report: Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care  assesses the extent of disparities in the types and quality of health services received by U.S. racial and ethnic minorities and non-minorities; explores factors that may contribute to inequities in care; and recommends policies and practices to eliminate these inequities.

NORTH CAROLINA

UNC School of Public Health mission is to improve the health and well-being of the population. It accomplishes this mission through the interaction of: Teaching: to educate students to assume and continue professional and leadership roles in public health practice, policy, research, and teaching. Research (basic and applied): to advance knowledge and understanding of the biological, social, behavioral, environmental, and economic factors affecting the health status of the population. Service and Professional Practice: to provide broad-based technical assistance and consultation on public health issues in the public and private sectors at local, state, national, and international levels. The UNC-Chapel Hill School of Public Health has set four themes to guide its efforts for the next five years: (1) PROTECTING against threats to health, (2) EMPOWERING people to lead healthy lives, (3) IMPROVING the quality of health services, an (4) PREPARING leaders to advance health.

NC Health Care Facilities Association was organized in 1956, and represents approximately 90% of the licensed nursing homes in North Carolina. Through government relations, continuing education, trade shows, community service projects, quality assurance, publications, and research, the NCHCFA focuses attention on the evolution of the long term health care profession and keeps its member facilities updated on the latest developments.

To increase the number of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who are trained, educated and employed in the health professions.   NC-HCAP does this by increasing awareness of career opportunities in the health professions, cultivating interests in pursuit of health professions, enhancing opportunities to gain access to formal training and education programs in health professions, and  increasing the probability of success in completing formal training and education programs in the health professions.

HOKE/RAEFORD

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