HHS Office of Minority Health

WHAT THEY DO

The Office of Minority Health (OMH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is dedicated to improving the health of racial and ethnic minority populations. They do this by:   

• Developing health policies and programs
• Working with public health and community-based partners
• Providing quality, equitable, and respectful care and services
• Addressing health disparities and promoting health equity

OMH focuses on issues such as access to care, cultural competence, health literacy, and addressing the specific health needs of various minority populations. They work to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to achieve their best possible health.

THE CHALLENGE

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health (OMH) was tasked with communicating vital public health information to the nation’s most vulnerable populations. These communities, spanning a variety of racial and ethnic minorities, faced unique challenges such as language barriers, mistrust in government healthcare messaging, and varying cultural norms regarding health and safety practices. OMH sought a partner to help tailor their COVID-19 messaging in a way that would resonate across diverse communities and ensure equitable access to accurate, life-saving information.

THE SOLUTION

Transcreation of COVID-19-related communication materials to support outreach to racial and ethnic minority communities across the United States.

The objective was to develop culturally relevant public health communications in various languages for underserved racial and ethnic groups. The project focused on ensuring that critical health guidelines, vaccine information, and safety practices were effectively communicated while being culturally appropriate and linguistically accessible.

THE RESULTS

• Widespread Engagement: Increased vaccine participation and adherence to health guidelines in targeted minority groups.
• Increased Trust: Culturally attuned communication reduced vaccine hesitancy and fostered trust between communities and government.
• Misinformation Mitigation: Tailored messaging helped dispel common myths about vaccines.

“Translation Excellence provided outstanding transcreation services during our COVID-19 outreach, effectively bridging language barriers and addressing cultural sensitivities. Their tailored communication approach significantly improved engagement and vaccine participation in minority communities. We highly recommend their professional and impactful services for future initiatives.”  Samuel Wu, COR, Office of Minority Health

Translation Excellence’s transcreation services were vital in helping OMH effectively communicate with minority communities, making health information accessible, trusted, and actionable during the pandemic.