Connecticut opens Office of Health Equity

The Connecticut Department of Public Health recently announced a new office to address health disparities in Connecticut that are related to people’s backgrounds.

The Office of Health Equity was established to eliminate differences in disease, disability and death rates based on ethnicity, age, gender, socioeconomic position, immigration status, sexual minority status, language, disability, homelessness, mental illness or geography, the department reported.

The office replaces the former Office of Multicultural Health.

“Promoting health equity is central to our mission at the Department of Public Health,” said Dr. Jewel Mullen, department commissioner, in a statement. “This office will provide support and resources to all our programs so they can incorporate health equity into their everyday work.”

The Office of Health Equity has two epidemiologists and a research analyst. It also is supported by staff across the agency.