DCL-04-10, National Women's Health Week

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-04-10

ATTACHMENT: National Women's Check-Up Day Provider Sign-Up Form

DATE: February 26, 2004

TO: ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: National Women's Health Week

Dear Colleague:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will celebrate National Women’s Health Week on May 9-15, 2004 and its signature event, National Women’s Check-Up Day, on May 10, 2004. Because you can play such a critical role in improving women’s health, we encourage you to join us in this year’s initiative. The celebration complements and supports our efforts to help all women take advantage of important preventive health care services and furthers President George W. Bush’s long-range initiative to enhance access to health care services through local health centers for people without health insurance.

In addition to possible health improvement, addressing health problems that function as barriers to work can improve a TANF participant’s success in gaining and maintaining employment. In assessing clients’ capacity to work, TANF programs can identify health-related barriers and refer recipients to health services including substance abuse and mental health services, domestic violence treatment and prevention.

Last year, more than 1,000 events, proclamations and health screenings occurred in every state and thousands of women received preventive health information and services. The Department hopes to expand the impact of this year’s National Women’s Health Week by inviting your organization and others across the nation to become National Women’s Check-Up Day providers or to host an event during the week.

Provider agencies would agree to offer or encourage women in your community to make appointments for preventive health services on May 10, 2004. Services could include blood pressure checks, pap tests, mammograms, diabetes tests, HIV/AIDS tests, and other health screenings. As an event organizer, you would agree to host an event in your community to improve understanding and awareness of women’s health issues during the week of May 9-15, 2004. All providers and event hosts will be listed on the National Women’s Health Information Center Web site and may order free promotional and educational materials at http://www.4woman.gov/whw while supplies last.

The following are a few ideas that you may wish to consider for your National Women’s Health Week event:

Hold a kickoff event announcing National Women’s Health Week in your community. Invite the mayor, other community leaders, health educators, the media, and the public.
Coordinate with the local health department and health care centers and clinics to organize community activities such as free cholesterol, blood pressure, depression, hearing, diabetes and bone density screenings.
Organize Mobile Screening units to provide breast exams, pap smears, blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and STD screening.
Offer classes or workshops on women’s health issues such as:
- Domestic Violence
- Nutrition, Diet and Exercise
- Prenatal Care
- Smoking Cessation
Provide workshops for case managers and other service providers and consumers on topics such as mental health and substance abuse issues, and services for women who are HIV-Positive.
Encourage your local newspapers or school districts to sponsor essay, poetry, oratory, and/or poster contests on National Women’s Health Week, in which young people are asked to explain why it is important to stay healthy.

To sign up as a National Women’s Check-Up Day provider or as an event host, you may complete the enclosed form and submit no later than April 15, 2004 or visit the National Women’s Health Week Web site at http://www.4woman.gov/whw. Thank you for your interest. Your organization’s ability to engage hard-to-reach populations and your experience in health issues will be very important in helping assure that vulnerable women access the health services they need.

Sincerely,

Sherri Z. Heller, Ed.D
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

Enclosures