The mission of the Health Education Council (HEC) is to ‘promote healthy communities.’ HEC pursues its mission through health education/promotion programs and partnerships with organizations that serve at-risk populations, particularly the medically underserved and ethnic minorities. HEC’s emphasis is on expanding volunteer involvement in underserved communities, facilitating empowerment, and effecting sustainable change.

The Health Education Council is dedicated to promoting quality of life and community norms which include the prevention of diseases; the right to a healthy environment; respect for individual rights, cultural traditions, ethnic and linguistic diversity, shared community responsibility and involvement; and innovative and visionary responses which meet the unique needs of the populations we serve. 

The Health Education Council began operations in 1979 as the Hypertension Council. The Council’s name changed in 1990 to reflect its expansion into other health promotion programs. The Council incorporated in 1991 as an independent 501c(3) nonprofit organization.