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The OAAH Role Abolishing the Minnesota Paradox
The establishment of the Office of African American Health
(OAAH) by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) could signal a new era of
addressing the health disparities that have plagued African Americans in
Minnesota for generations. Yet, there's a lingering question about whether this
move is a genuine step towards change or just another cash grab in a system
that's historically failed to protect its most vulnerable populations.
The Minnesota Paradox—a phrase describing the
disconnect between Minnesota’s image of progressive equality and the harsh
reality of racial disparities—remains a glaring issue. Despite having a
reputation for strong public health and education systems, Minnesota has some
of the worst racial disparities in the nation, particularly affecting African
Americans and other marginalized communities, specifically the Soulanni. The
state's failure to enforce laws equitably has led to a system where the
Minnesota Department of Human Services (MN DHS) is a prime offender,
consistently failing to provide the protection and fair treatment needed to
ensure health and well-being for all.
The Problem with the
Current System
The newly launched OAAH aims to tackle these disparities,
but the effectiveness of such an office is questionable given that it's housed
within the MDH, an agency with a history of systemic failures. How can an
office operating under the same institutions responsible for creating and
maintaining these disparities expect to resolve them? There are serious doubts
about accountability, oversight, and the enforcement of policies meant to
protect African Americans. Without a robust system of checks and balances, how
can offenders within these agencies be held accountable? I have firsthand
experience with the appeals process, which is often more about protecting the
agency's interests than delivering justice to participants.
A Missed Opportunity for
Real Reform
Rather than simply creating another office eligible for
funding within the MDH, a more effective strategy would have been to reduce the
authority of MN DHS over critical programs and conduct a comprehensive audit,
similar to the DOJ's investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department. By
reallocating resources to mandate extensive training, linking funding to clear
success metrics, and pausing finances when a threshold of complaints is
crossed, real change could be forced. In this model, a pause in funding would
not be lifted until key leaders—such as the appointing governor, commissioner,
and relevant departments—face a transparent review process, with community
members and affected participants given a chance to voice their concerns.
Checks and Balances: A
Path to True Accountability
This approach might lead to short-term instability as
systems adjust, but the reality is that innocent people are already suffering
under the current structure. The difference is that, with proper oversight,
failures would no longer be swept under the rug, and accountability would be
immediate and visible. Employees and administrators would be compelled to
follow regulations meticulously, as their own job security would depend on
meeting equitable success criteria. The possibility of chaos due to funding pauses
would motivate multiple layers of oversight, leading to a more transparent and
accountable system.
The Workforce: Creating
a True Match Between Employees and Clients
A transformative change in the agency’s structure would open
the door for hiring from marginalized communities who have direct experience
with systemic failures. The demographics of those who work in human services
should reflect the people they serve. A workforce shaped by those most affected
could introduce innovative solutions that directly address the root causes of
the institutional failures seen today. This wouldn't be any more disruptive
than the integration of national sports teams like the NBA or NFL, which, after
resistance, created a more inclusive and better-performing system.
Current Reality:
Institutional Failure and Persistent Inequities
The reality in Minnesota is that institutional failure
already exists, but it’s hidden behind a veneer of progress and prosperity. The
OAAH's creation, while potentially well-intentioned, risks being another
band-aid on a deep wound if it fails to address the systemic issues that
underpin the state's racial health disparities. Generations of well-off
Minnesotans have thrived under a system that has systematically failed its
marginalized citizens. Those failures are now deeply embedded within agencies
like MN DHS, where countless lives have been adversely affected by negligence
or deliberate inaction.
What
About Oversight?
The establishment of oversight offices, like the OAAH,
raises the question of how willing these agencies are to confront uncomfortable
truths. If there are targeted schemes, specifically affecting Soulanni
Minnesotans and resulting in poor health outcomes, will the OAAH truly have the
power, will, and resources to expose and correct them? Or will it become
another underfunded, under-supported entity caught in the web of bureaucracy,
making small, surface-level changes while the deeper issues remain untouched?
A Call for Genuine
Accountability and Transformation
The hope is that this is not just another cash grab designed
to placate concerns without enacting real change. If the intention is genuine,
then the MDH and its new office must be prepared to confront the hard truth of
white and systemic crimes that have led to poor health outcomes for African
Americans in Minnesota. The health and well-being of African Americans can’t be
improved without dismantling the very systems that have kept them marginalized
for so long. True change requires bold moves, such as linking funding to
agency-wide performance and holding not just individuals but entire departments
accountable.
Ultimately, this transformation could lead to a healthier
state, where the structures that once oppressed are reformed into agencies that
genuinely uplift. Without it, the Minnesota Paradox will persist, and those
suffering within the system will continue to be overlooked, all while billions
of dollars flow through the hands of those who benefit from the status quo. We
owe it to our communities to do better, and to ensure that this time, the
change is real.
OAAH Contact Information (only media Inquiries are
listed on the website)
Media inquiries:
Scott Smith
MDH Communications
651-503-1440
scott.smith@state.mn.us
The Minnesota Office of
African American Legislation
144.0754 OFFICE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HEALTH; DUTIES.
(a) The commissioner shall establish the Office of African American Health to address the unique public health needs of African American Minnesotans. The office must work to develop solutions and systems to address identified health disparities of African American Minnesotans arising from a context of cumulative and historical discrimination and disadvantages in multiple systems, including but not limited to housing, education, employment, gun violence, incarceration, environmental factors, and health care discrimination. The office shall:
(1) convene the African American Health State Advisory Council under section 144.0755 to advise the commissioner on issues and to develop specific, targeted policy solutions to improve the health of African American Minnesotans, with a focus on United States born African Americans;
(2) based upon input from and collaboration with the African American Health State Advisory Council, health indicators, and identified disparities, conduct analysis and develop policy and program recommendations and solutions targeted at improving African American health outcomes;
(3) coordinate and conduct community engagement across multiple systems, sectors, and communities to address racial disparities in labor force participation, educational achievement, and involvement with the criminal justice system that impact African American health and well-being;
(4) conduct data analysis and research to support policy goals and solutions;
(5) award and administer African American health special emphasis grants to health and community-based organizations to plan and develop programs targeted at improving African American health outcomes, based upon needs identified by the council, health indicators, and identified disparities and addressing historical trauma and systems of United States born African American Minnesotans; and
(6) develop and administer Department of Health immersion experiences for students in secondary education and community colleges to improve diversity of the public health workforce and introduce career pathways that contribute to reducing health disparities.
(b) By January 15, 2025, and every two years thereafter, the commissioner of health shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over health policy and finance on the work accomplished by the Office of African American Health during the previous two years and on goals of the office for the upcoming two years.
History:
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