Women's Health

Also see links for Violence Against Women and Cardiovascular Disease.

Federal Government:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Healthy People 2010-Maternal, Infant and Child Health
www.healthypeople.gov/Document/HTML/Volume2/16MICH.htm

Description: Healthy People 2010 presents a comprehensive, nationwide health promotion and disease prevention agenda. The program design serves as a roadmap for improving the health of all people in the United States during the first decade of the 21st century. The section of Healthy People 2010 focused on maternal, infant and child health and has the goal of working to improve the health and well-being of this specific population.

Information Available: Issues and trends, disparities, opportunities, Healthy People 2010 objectives, related health objectives, terminology and appropriate references.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
www.cdc.gov/nchs/health_data_for_all_ages.htm

Description: As the Nation's principal health statistics agency, NCHS compiles statistical information to guide actions and policies to improve the health of the American people. NCHS exists as a unique public resource for health information-a critical element of public health and health policy.

Information Available: Tables that provide health statistics for infants, children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. The tables can be customized with characteristics such as gender.

MEDLINEplus-Health Information
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/womenshealthissues.html

Description: MEDLINEplus, sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, includes a vast amount of health information on over 600 diseases and conditions. The site offers authoritative, up to date and appropriate health information for both health professionals and consumers.

Information Available: Latest news, overviews, clinical trials, prevention and screening, research, specific conditions, treatment, organizations, statistics, older women's health issues and links to other relevant MEDLINEplus pages.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Women's Health (General)
health.nih.gov/result.asp/729

Description: NIH is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the nation. Its mission is science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.

Information Available: Links to specific women's health topics (e.g. awareness campaigns, women and drug abuse, depression, HIV infection and bone mass) broken down by agencies within NIH.

Office on Women's Health
National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC)

Description: The NWHIC provides a gateway to the vast array of Federal and other women's health information resources. The site offers a wide variety of women's health-related material developed by the Department of Health and Human Services, other Federal agencies and private sector resources.

www.4woman.gov

Information Available: Educational campaigns, special sections (i.e. breastfeeding, body image, heart health, etc), current health news, funding opportunities, hot topics in Congress, press releases, residencies and fellowships, screenings and immunizations schedules, health dictionaries and the NWHIC newsletter.

www.4girls.gov

Information Available: A site created to assist girls (ages 10 - 16) in learning about health, growing up and developmental issues. It focuses on health topics that girls are concerned about and motivates them to choose healthy behaviors by using positive, supportive and non-threatening messages. The site gives girls reliable, useful information on the health issues they face as they become young women and tips on handling relationships with family and friends at school and at home.

Missouri Government:

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS)
Bureau of Cancer Control
Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Project (BCCCP)
www.dhss.mo.gov/BreastCervCancer/

Description: The Bureau of Cancer Control and the BCCCP support quality screening, diagnostic and treatment services following current medical standards of care of breast and cervical cancer for all women in Missouri. This is achieved by education, community outreach and resource development in partnership with public and private entities, communities and citizens.

Information Available: National and state program, eligibility, income requirements, diagnostic services and treatment, map of providers, additional resources and BCCCP Provider Manual 2003-2004.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS)
Office of Women's Health
www.dhss.mo.gov/WomensHealth/

Description: The Office on Women's Health is a public health office focused on helping women and their families stay healthy by preventing disease, disability and premature death. Their mission is to help women take steps to prevent poor health or manage a pre-existing condition.

Information Available: Missouri Health Status Report for Women, Caring for Your Health: A Missouri Women's Handbook, Missouri health priorities for women, women's health resources and information on the Women's Health Council.

National Organizations and Foundations:

American Medical Women's Association (AMWA)
www.amwa-doc.org

Description: AMWA, an organization of 10,000 women physicians and medical students, serves as the unique voice for women's health and the advancement of women in medicine. Some of the women's health issues AMWA has worked to improve include smoking prevention and cessation, osteoporosis, violence against women, heart disease, gender equity, breast cancer, and reproductive health. AMWA has also acted to enhance the financing mechanisms for medical students and for gender equity in medical education. AMWA's policy agenda includes a focus on tobacco control and prevention, reproductive health, affirmative action, and managed care.

Information Available: Resolutions, position papers, fact sheets, publications, articles, links for health topics, student information, education initiatives, meetings and advocacy activities.

Black Women's Health Imperative
www.blackwomenshealth.org

Description: The Black Women's Health Imperative exists as an institution devoted to African American health education, research, advocacy and leadership development. Founded in 1983, it has been a pioneer in promoting the empowerment of African American women as educated health care consumers and a strong voice for the improved health status of African American women.

Information Available: Nutrition network, physician locator, vitamins and drug safety checker, cookbook, current medical news, fitness guide, stress assessment, health management guide, events, research, issues and legislation, action alerts, job fairs and press releases.

The Commonwealth Fund
Women's Health
commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications.htm

Description: The Commonwealth Fund seeks to understand and minimize barriers to effective health care services for all people. Women's health has been a major concern of the Fund for many years and its work in this area is fueled by a concern that women's health is an issue often hidden by popular misconceptions, research neglect and even women's own silence. Disturbingly high rates of violence and abuse, rising numbers of uninsured women, and serious health problems among low-income women all underscore the need for continued efforts to improve all women's access to high-quality health care and health education.

Information Available: Publications and journal articles related directly to women's health issues.

The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)
Women's Health Policy
www.kff.org/womenshealth/index.cfm

Description: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, an independent philanthropy, focuses on the major health care issues facing the nation. The Foundation is an independent voice and source of facts and analysis for policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the general public.

Information Available: State women's health facts: includes data on government-funded women's health services, population demographics, insurance coverage, health status and other topics; Capital Hill Briefing Series; Women's Health Data Book; news summaries; women's health policy webcasts and publications on women's health policy issues.

National Women's Health Network (NWHN)
www.nwhn.org

Description: The National Women's Health Network shapes policy and consumer health decisions and options by developing and promoting a critical analysis of health issues. They monitor the actions of federal regulatory and funding agencies, industry and the health professions, identify and expose abuses, and catalyze grassroots action to make change.

Information Available: Health alerts; advocacy archives; priority areas which include reproductive and sexual health, menopause, universal access and breast implants; fact sheets; links and resources; information packets; position papers and the bimonthly NWHN publication.

National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC)
www.healthywomen.org

Description: Since the late 1980's, the NWHRC has educated millions of women about the health topics that concern them most. This non-profit organization has dedicated itself to assisting women in making informed decisions about their health and encouraging them to embrace a healthy lifestyle that promotes wellness and prevents disease.

Information Available: A national clearinghouse for women's health information. Resources include: e-newsletters, news stories, an A -to- Z health topic information center, NWHRC publications, a health library, a creating a healthier lifestyle corner and a health services resource directory.

Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)
www.womenshealthresearch.org

Description: Founded in 1990, SWHR brought to national attention the need for the appropriate inclusion of women in major medical research studies and the need for more information about conditions affecting women disproportionately, predominately, or differently than men. The Society advocates increased funding for research on women's health; encourages the study of sex differences that may affect the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease; promotes the inclusion of women in medical research studies; and informs women, providers, policy makers and media about contemporary women's health issues.

Information Available: Current news, action alerts, events, advocacy opportunities, scientific conferences, policy meetings, sex differences in health, resources for educators, links, workshops, funding opportunities, Society health priorities, Women's Health Research Coalition and press releases.