Family Health History
Genetic Alliance coordinates existing family health history efforts, while simultaneously increasing the breadth and diversity of involved organizations. Family health history is especially important to individuals living with genetic and rare conditions. Most, if not all, diseases have some genetic component. Whether specific genes cause or increase one’s risk for a condition, knowledge of family health history increases an individual’s chances of making positive health choices.
Family Health History is an accessible tool which:
- Captures heredity, diet, and environment in one location
- Allows a health care provider to diagnose conditions and understand risk
- Increases health and genetics knowledge for the individual and the family
- Promotes conversations about health in the family and community
- Identifies trends and patterns of disease that may lead to treatment or prevention
Community Centered Family Health History
This project is supported through a cooperative agreement from the Genetic Services Branch of the Maternal Child Health Bureau/HRSA/DHHS.
Coalition for Accessible Family Health History Tools
Consisting of a diverse group of community-based organizations, advocacy organizations, government agencies, researchers, and health professionals, this coalition’s goal is to promote family health history within all types of communities via the creation and dissemination of a How-to Guide: Using Family Health History Tools: A Guide to Making Tools Accessible to Your Community.
Family Health History Resources
This webpage provides links to help you find existing family health history tools and also highlights articles that address the following topics:
- Tools to Help Track
- Assessing Your Risk
- Ethnic and Cultural Concerns
- Primary Care and Genetics
