Racial Misclassification
Racial misclassification is the incorrect identification of an individual’s race, and happens very often with American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Racial classification that reflects an individual’s identity is essential in order for public health experts to create a true representation of disease and death within a population and respond appropriately.
Often funeral directors misclassify race on death records, leading to flawed mortality statistics that undercount AI/AN deaths. Fortunately, racial misclassification can improve.
The following one-pagers provide basic information and practices that individual funeral directors, funeral director associations, and governments and other policy stakeholders can take to improve racial classification of AI/AN people after death.
Preventing Racial Misclassification: What can Funeral Directors do?
Preventing Racial Misclassification: What can Business Associations do?
Preventing Racial Misclassification: What can Governments and Policy Stakeholders do?
Preventing Racial Misclassification: Do’s and Don’ts for Funeral Directors
This website was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award (NOFO OT18-1802, titled Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services through National Partnerships to Improve and Protect the Nation’s Health) funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
