Description of organization:
In June 2006, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) elevated the minority health program to a higher level in its formation of the Wyoming Office of Multicultural Health (WOMH). This change provided an opportunity for WOMH to be a health advocate for the underrepresented, underserved and minority populations in Wyoming. The WOMH secured necessary resources and developed a statewide comprehensive Health Disparity State Plan (HDSP) to aid collaboration and partnership opportunities among state agencies, academic institutions and community groups. The Wyoming Office of Multicultural Health (WOMH) is working to ensure Wyoming's racial and ethnic minority residents receive the same quality health care as the general population by advocating for policies, programs and services that improve access to health care systems. WOMH serves as a central point for the exchange of information, expertise and assistance in improving the health status of Wyoming's minority and underserved populations, such as research on minority health issues, cultural and linguistic health care barriers and accessing specialty services such as mental health care. WOMH also links to Direct Services including resources for translation/interpretation services.

Description of project:
WOMH will integrate the Wyoming Health Disparity Plan (HDSP) while focusing on facilitating the improvement of minority health and the elimination of health disparities. Through implementation of the HDSP, state and community awareness of health disparities in Wyoming will increase, leadership at all levels addressing health disparities will be strengthened, and coordination and utilization of research and outcome evaluations for program enhancement functions will be improved. WOMH has partnered with the Wyoming Primary Care Association to integrate and coordinate with the Wyoming Migrant Health, which has a project to educate Hispanic and other migrant workers regarding diabetes, Wind River Health Systems, Inc., which has a project to address substance abuse and diabetes mellitus with Wyoming American Indians and El-Puente, which has a project to identify and coordinate Wyoming's medical interpreters in an effort to gain participation in a statewide network for medical interpreters.