101 + Careers in Public Health, Second Edition by Seltzer Beth

Author:Seltzer, Beth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer Publishing Company, Inc.
Published: 2015-11-28T04:00:00+00:00

DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH

Job Description

Many state health agencies have offices dedicated to alleviating health disparities. The exact names vary, but “Office of Minority Health” is a common variation; other names include “Office of Health Disparities” and “Office of Health Equity.” Some city and county health departments have their own such offices, focusing on local needs. These departments use a combination of activities to accomplish their goals, and they have directors who are closely involved in the day-to-day work. Typically, the work of a county Office of Minority Health will be based on information about the health of different population groups, including things like premature births, vaccination coverage, and diabetes prevalence. The director, often working with a small staff, attempts to identify where the disparities are and to begin figuring out why they exist. Then, the office sponsors programs or works with community groups to address the problem. Some of the programs are traditional, but some can be quite creative—like training barbershop staff to talk to their clients about cancer screening or sponsoring health-related contests at high schools. The director oversees these efforts, helping to plan programs and events, drawing up and managing the department budget, applying for funding, making long-range plans, and collaborating with the leaders of other departments and outside organizations. Bringing community groups together, guiding and assisting with their efforts, and providing information and resources they need can be a significant part of this job.

This is an office job, but one with a lot of interaction with community organizations and outside agencies. The director may be expected to represent the department at events that occur in the evenings and on weekends.

Education and Certification

At some local minority health offices, the director is a physician. At others, the director has an MPH, a master’s degree in another related field, or a bachelor’s degree with experience in local community health programs.

Core Competencies and Skills

Ability to interact with and gain the trust of people from many different backgrounds

Ability to handle multiple projects at once

Understanding of epidemiologic principles

Awareness of health equity issues and of existing programs to address health disparities

Experience planning different types of outreach programs and knowledge of how to evaluate their success

Experience with local minority groups and with the community organizations that are working to address their needs

Compensation

Salaries for local minority health directors reflect their qualifications as well as local budgets. Recent job listings, generally seeking candidates with master’s degrees in public health or public administration, have offered salaries ranging from about $45,000 to $90,000.

Workplaces

Minority health offices are found in health departments at every level of government. At the federal level, there is an Office of Minority Health and Health Equity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a separate Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Employment Outlook

Each state has a division or department focusing on health equity, often as part of the health department. Some cities and counties have their own minority health departments, or a community partnership focusing on this issue.

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