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Minority Health Advisory Committee

The Nebraska Minority Health Advisory Committee provides advice and guidance to the Office. The Committee is made up of 21 members who represent Nebraska's racial/ethnic minorities, consumers, providers, advocates, and the geographic regions of the state. Members are appointed by the Director of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Meetings are held on a quarterly basis or more often if needed.

The Committee's purpose:

  • Give attention to reducing the gap in health status between minorities and non-minorities.
  • Ensure the development of policies, programs, quality assurance, and implementation strategies which are designed to significantly impact the morbidity, mortality, and disability rates of minorities.
  • Encourage collaboration among state and local public health departments and community-based agencies.
  • Promote working with existing programs in order to make the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services more culturally competent.
  • Provide input in setting funding priorities that will address problems identified through needs assessments and community input.
  • Ensure assistance to communities, agencies, and organizations in identifying minority needs and the appropriate resources to address them.

If you are interested in being part of the Advisory Committee, please send your name, company name, address, telephone number, and email address to the Office of Minority Health, PO Box 95026, Lincoln, NE 68509-5007 or email minority.health@dhhs.ne.gov .

Minority Health Advisory Committee Members:

Teresa Anderson Central District Health Department
Steve Beal Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department
Dr. Richard Brown Charles Drew Health Center
Anne Yu Buettner, MA Marriage & Family Therapist, Mental Health Practitioner
Mary Lee Fitzsimmons One World Health Center
Joel Gajardo, PhD Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition
Renee Geller, LPN Nebraska Minority Public Health Association
Alfred Harrington, MD, MPH, MBA Harrington & Associates
Octa Keen, MSN, RN Veteran's Medical Center
Modesta Putla Asian Community and Cultural Center
Ella Ochoa NAF Multicultural Human Development Corporation
Frank Peak Creighton University Medical Center
Donna Polk-Primm Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition
Chris Rodgers Douglas County Commissioner
Jose Soto, JD Southeast Community College
Arturo Spindola East Central District Health Department
Roger Trudell Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska

Raja Tayeh, MEd 

Rebecca Valdez Chicano Awareness Center
J. Martin Vargas Panhandle Community  Services

Edward Young                        

Child and Family Develop Corporation

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