Minority Health Advisory Committee

The Minority Health Alliances serve as a voice of advocacy and advice for the community in identifying and improving minority health status; serve with the purpose of establishing and maintaining meaningful communication on minority health issues; and to develop and submit specific recommendations to the Department of Health and Senior Services that will have a positive impact on minority health and wellness disparities at the local level and statewide.

Alliance Goals:

• The Alliance is the “bridge” between minority communities and public health care agencies to provide better access to services and to influence policies impacting minorities.
  
• The Alliance offers open dialogue for sharing successes, problems, and barriers within the community and working together works to create solutions.

Alliance Efforts Include:

• Prioritizing issues of minority communities.
• Supporting community activities and organizations.
• Encouraging minority participation in health programs,
• Advising current community organizations on minority outreach.
• Identifying new community health partners.
• Special events.

Minority Health Advisory Committee Board Officers:
Evelyn Harden, Chair
Vanessa Frazier, Co-Chair
Lorna Miles, Secretary
Rosetta Keeton, Parliamentarian

Alliance Meeting Dates:

Central Alliance - Carla Johnson, Chair and Denise Redmon, Co-Chair
Maria Cepeda, Staff Liaison
Columbia/Boone County Health Department
1005 W. Worley St.
Columbia, MO
Meetings are held every second Thursday of the following months from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Eastern Alliance – Urlene Jackson-Branch, Chair
Gloria Brand, Staff Liaison
St. Louis Connect Care
5535 Delmar Blvd
St. Louis, MO
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
All general meetings are held every second Wednesday of the following months:

Executive Officers and Committee Chairs meet 10:00 am before the general meetings in January, April, July, and October.

Educational meetings are held each month between general meetings.

Northeast Alliance - Brian Williams, Chair
Gloria Brand, Staff Liaison

Please call for meeting date, time and location.

Northwest Alliance - Evelyn Harden, Chair
Clemme Rambo and Diane Rojas, Co-Chairs
Glenda Meachum-Cain, Staff Liaison
Location varies, please call.
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
All meetings are held every last Wednesday of the following months:

Southeast Alliance - Evelyn Pulliam, Chair
Earnestine Jackson, Co-Chair
This Alliance is restructuring.  If you are interested in being a member of this alliance, please complete the membership form.

Southwest Alliance – Samuel Knox, Interim Chair
Gloria Brand, Staff Liaison
Busch Building
840 Boonville
Springfield, MO
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
All meetings are held every last Tuesday of the following months:

For more information about the Minority Health Advisory Committee Regional Alliance, please call the Office of Minority Health toll-free at 1-800-877-3180 or write to:

Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
Division of Community & Public Health
Center for Health Policy Integration
Office of Minority Health
P.O. Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102

To be a member of the Minority Health Advisory Committee Regional Alliance, please complete the membership form.

Office of Minority Health Staff:
Cheryl Avant, Chief
Glenda Meachum-Cain, Assistant Chief
Gloria Brand, Minority Obesity Prevention Coordinator
Maria Cepeda, Hispanic Community Consultant
Jannis Evans, African American HIV/AIDS Emergency Response Coordinator
Margie Miner, African American Infant Mortality Initiative Coordinator
Valerie Butler, Administrative Assistant