Sec. 19a-4j. Office of Multicultural Health. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 19a-4j. Office of Multicultural Health. (a) There is established, within the Department of Public Health, an Office of Multicultural Health. The responsibility of the office is to improve the health of all Connecticut residents by eliminating differences in disease, disability and death rates among ethnic, racial and cultural populations.

      (b) The department may apply for, accept and expend such funds as may be available from federal, state or other sources and may enter into contracts to carry out the responsibilities of the office.

      (c) The office shall:

      (1) With regard to health status: (A) Monitor the health status of African Americans; Latinos/Hispanics; Native Americans/Alaskan Natives; and Asians, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; (B) compare the results of the health status monitoring with the health status of non-Hispanic Caucasians/whites; and (C) assess the effectiveness of state programs in eliminating differences in health status;

      (2) Assess the health education and health resource needs of ethnic, racial and cultural populations listed in subdivision (1) of this subsection; and

      (3) Maintain a directory of, and assist in development and promotion of, multicultural and multiethnic health resources in Connecticut.

      (d) The office may:

      (1) Provide grants for culturally appropriate health education demonstration projects and may apply for, accept and expend public and private funding for such projects; and

      (2) Recommend policies, procedures, activities and resource allocations to improve health among racial, ethnic and cultural populations in Connecticut.

      (e) The Commissioner of Public Health shall submit an annual report concerning the activities of the office to the Governor, the General Assembly, the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women established under section 46a-1, the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission established under section 2-120, the Indian Affairs Council established under section 47-59b and the Connecticut African-American Affairs Commission. The office shall also hold community workshops and use other means to disseminate its findings state-wide.

      (P.A. 98-250, S. 8, 39.)

      History: P.A. 98-250 effective July 1, 1998.