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What is equity?
The term “equity” means the consistent and systematic treatment of all people in a fair, just, and impartial manner. This includes, as defined by Executive Order 13985, people who belong to communities that have been denied equitable treatment such as Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander persons and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other gender and sexual identities (LGBTQI+); persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; persons who live in United States Territories; persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality; and people who belong to more than one of these groups.
Advancing equity at HHS
HHS is committed to addressing inequities and advancing equity through assessing and changing policies, programs, and processes across the Department. HHS is also working to enhance its culture, resources, and practices to make equity a lasting priority.
- Executive Order 13985 on “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government” calls for an approach where the entire government advances equity and opportunity in government practices. To improve the lives of every person across the nation, this government equity work includes:
- Management.
- Policymaking (including through regulation and guidance).
- Procurement, contracting, and budgeting.
- Delivery of benefits and services.
- Data collection, reporting, and use.
- Executive Order 14091 on “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government” maintains the Administration’s commitment to deliver equity and build an America in which all people can participate, succeed, and reach their full potential.
- Executive Order 14035, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workplace sets up a government-wide initiative to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). As a result, the HHS DEIA Strategic Plan creates a foundation to guide the DEIA work for the Department. This includes policy guidance on DEIA and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), data supporting DEIA and EEO, and a common method to report progress.
HHS Strategic Plan 2022-2026
All HHS divisions contributed to the development of the HHS Strategic Plan FY 2022 - 2026 (Strategic Plan), which describes work to address complex, multifaceted, and evolving public health issues.
HHS and Division Equity Fact Sheets
The HHS and Division Equity Fact Sheets shares how HHS is lowering health care costs, expanding health care coverage, improving health outcomes, supporting rural and tribal health care providers, protecting civil rights and nondiscrimination in health care, and advancing data equity.
HHS and Division Language Access Plans
The updated Language Access Plan aid the Department in providing equitable access to the wide array of programs and activities funded and administered by HHS for people with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Data Action Plan
The HHS Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Data Action Plan seeks to improve the collection of data related to the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other gender and sexual identities (LGBTQI+).
HHS Equity Action Plan
HHS is committed to addressing inequities and advancing equity through assessing and changing policies, programs, and processes across the Department. Additionally, HHS is working to shift the culture, resources, and approaches to institutionalize and sustain a focus on equity over time. Our Equity Action Plan highlights five areas to advance equity:
Prevent neglect and improve care to help children thrive in their families and communities.
Promote accessible and welcoming health care for all.
Improve maternal health outcomes for rural, racial, and ethnic minority communities.
Prioritize the behavioral health of underserved populations.
Increase clinical research and trial diversity to support innovation.
Equity highlights
HHS agencies work together to collectively advance equity in support of public health, medical care, human services, and well-being. You can explore some of the areas where we’re making progress below.
Data Equity
We need equitable public health data systems that reflect everyone’s life experiences to be able to effectively address inequities.
Prohibiting Discrimination
HHS protects against discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity, age, and disability.
Access to Care
Ensuring all Americans have access to affordable health coverage and quality care means lowering costs, reducing barriers, and recognizing our diverse needs.
Maternal Health
HHS is committed to supporting safe pregnancies and childbirth and improving health outcomes for parents and infants across our country.
Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is the most common inherited blood disorder in the U.S. and disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic/Latino Americans.
Climate Change and Environmental Justice
HHS works to protect the health of those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and other environmental hazards.
Equity in action
The Community Economic Development Program (CED) seeks to improve the economic self-sufficiency of individuals with low incomes in communities with high unemployment and persistent poverty rates through sustainable business development and job creation.
Equity resources
Explore the equity resources listed below from across HHS and the federal government.
Resource Highlight: Digital Health Equity
The Departmenthas drafted “Advancing Health Equity by Design and Health Information Technology: Proposed Approach, Invitation for Public Input, and Call to Action.” Health Equity by Design (HEBD) focuses on the need to include health equity at the outset and as a key feature during the design, build, and implementation of health IT policies, programs, projects, and workflows. HEBD uses health IT to move health data into action by identifying and reducing health disparities, and promoting health equity.
Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Institutes and Offices of Minority Health/Health Equity
- Office of Minority Health | HHS
- Office of Extramural Research, Education and Priority Populations | AHRQ
- Office of Health Equity | CDC
- Office of Minority Health | CMS
- Office of Minority Health and Health Equity | FDA
- Office of Health Equity | HRSA
- National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities | NIH
- Office of Behavioral Health Equity | SAMHSA
Tribal
- Tribal Affairs | HHS
- Major Expansion of the Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program | ACF
- Tribal MIECHV Notice of Funding Opportunity | ACF
- Hear Her Campaign | CDC
- OTASA | Tribal Public Health | CDC
- Indian Health Service Health Equity Fact Sheet | IHS
- Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy (SAMHSA)
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) People
- Key LGBTQI+ Progress at HHS | HHS
- LGBTQI+ Health & Well-being | HHS
- LGBTQI+ Resources, Reports, Initiatives & More | SAMHSA
Older Adults
People with Disabilities
- Preventing and Addressing Sexual Violence Against People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) | ACL
- Disability and Health Data System (DHDS) | CDC
- Disability and Health Overview | CDC
- Early Detection of Developmental Delays | CDC
- Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) | HRSA
Rural Health
States and Territories
Additional Communities
- HHS Office for Civil Rights Issues Guidance to the Nation’s Hospital and Long-Term Care Facility Administrators Clarifying Their Obligations to Ensure Religious Non-Discrimination in Patient Visitation | HHS
- Religious Freedom | HHS
- Shared Ancestry or Ethnic Characteristics Discrimination | HHS
- Children and Families | ACF
- Youth Homelessness | ACF
Digital Health Equity
- Telehealth Hub for Patients and Providers | HHS
- A Practical Guide for Implementing Digital Healthcare Equity Framework | AHRQ
- Advancing Health Equity by Design and Health Information Technology | ASTP/ONC
- Health Equity | ASTP/ONC
Health Equity Communication
Civil Rights
- Advancing an Equitable Government | Performance.gov | OMB
- Advancing Equity and Racial Justice Through the Federal Government | The White House
- Executive Order on Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals | The White House
- Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation | The White House
- Executive Order on Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination | The White House
- Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Counter Islamophobia | The White House
- National-Strategy-on-Gender-Equity-and-Equality.pdf (whitehouse.gov)
- The White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis: Two Years of Progress | The White House
- U.S. Office of Management and Budget's Updated Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity | OMB
- White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities | U.S. Department of Education