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Health & Wellness Resources

Cancer

American Cancer Society (ACS)
The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to helping individuals and their families understand and manage cancer. With more than 3,400 local offices, the services provided to patients, families, and health care providers are far reaching.
www.cancer.org

CancerCare^®CancerCare is the oldest and largest nonprofit agency dedicated to helping people face the many challenges of a cancer diagnosis. CancerCare provides free professional support services, including counseling, education, financial assistance and practical help, to people with cancer, their loved ones, and healthcare professionals across the country.
www.cancercare.org

Cancer Care Connection (CCC)
Cancer Care Connection is a non-profit service organization that helps people make informed decisions through professional coaching and personalized information and resource connections. Cancer Care Connection’s (CCC) mission is to provide individuals and families affected by cancer with personal coaching, Internet navigation assistance, and useful information and resource connections. Call toll-free at 866-266-7008
www.cancercareconnection.org

Cure Search
CureSearch unites the world’s largest childhood cancer research organization, the Children’s Oncology Group, and the National Childhood Cancer Foundation through our shared mission to cure childhood cancer. Research is the key to cure. At more than 200 Children’s Oncology Group member institutions worldwide, CureSearch’s dedicated physicians, nurses and scientists are conducting clinical trials and performing research to identify cancer causes and pioneer treatments and cures. CureSearch NCCF supports this lifesaving research by raising public awareness and funds through awareness, legislative and fundraising programs, which directly contribute to increasing survival rates.
www.CureSearch.org

Facing Forward Series – Life After Cancer Treatment
Life After Cancer Treatment, a publication of National Cancer Institute (NCI), covers post-treatment issues such as follow-up medical care, physical and emotional changes, changes in social relationships and workplace issues.
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/life-after-treatment

Mylion.org
www.mylion.org is a National Community Service Initiative sponsored by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting based on the documentary film A Lion in the House by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert. The film followed five young people living with childhood cancer and their families. Mylion.org offers a tool kit with information describing the impact of cancer on families and sibling, how friends can help, and information for doctors and nurses helping children with cancer.

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
The National Association of Social Workers is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with more than 152,000 members. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies.
www.socialworkers.org

National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of eight agencies that compose the Public Health Service (PHS) in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The National Cancer Institute coordinates the National Cancer Program, which conducts and supports research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer, rehabilitation from cancer, and the continuing care of cancer patients and the families of cancer patients.
www.cancer.gov

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS)
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship was founded in 1986 by and for people with cancer and those who care for them. NCCS is a patient-led organization representing survivors of all types of cancer and their families through information, support, and advocacy. The Cancer Survival Toolbox® (www.cancersurvivaltoolbox.org) is a free audio program designed to help cancer survivors and caregivers develop the practical tools to deal with cancer.
www.canceradvocacy.org

Death & Dying

Aging With Dignity
Aging with Dignity publishes Five Wishes, an easy-to-use legal document that helps adults of all ages plan for the care they want in case they become seriously ill.
www.agingwithdignity.org

Caring Connections
Caring Connections is a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. It is a national consumer engagement to improve care at the end of life, supported by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Caring Connections provides a variety of free resources on end-of life issues.
www.caringinfo.org.

Hospice Foundation of America
The Hospice Foundation of America exists to help those who cope personally or professionally with terminal illness, death, and the process of grief and bereavement.
ww.hospicefoundation.org

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. The organization is committed to improving end of life care and expanding access to hospice care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones.
www.nhpco.org

The Soros Foundation
The Soros Foundation’s Project on Death in America (PDIA) distributed $45 million in grant awards to organizations and individuals working to improve care for dying patients and their families. The PDIA Web site offers numerous links to this network of resources.
www.soros.org/initiatives/pdia/about

Disabilities

American Association of People with Disabilities
The largest national nonprofit cross-disability member organization in the United States, dedicated to ensuring economic self-sufficiency and political empowerment for the more than 56 million Americans with disabilities. AAPD works in coalition with other disability organizations for the full implementation and enforcement of disability nondiscrimination laws, particularly the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
www.aapd-dc.org

American Foundation for the Blind
The American Foundation for the Blind—the organization to which Helen Keller devoted her life—is a national nonprofit whose mission is to ensure that the ten million Americans who are blind or visually impaired enjoy the same rights and opportunities as other citizens. The American Foundation for the Blind promotes wide-ranging, systemic change by addressing the most critical issues facing the growing blind and visually impaired population—employment, independent living, literacy, and technology. In addition to its New York City headquarters, the American Foundation for the Blind maintains four National Centers in cities across the United States, and a Governmental Relations office in Washington, DC.
www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=42

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 118,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists.
www.asha.org

The Arc of the United States
The Arc of the United States works to include all children and adults with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities in every community.
www.thearc.org

Easter Seals
Easter Seals has been helping individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, live better lives for more than 80 years. From child development centers to physical rehabilitation and job training for people with disabilities, Easter Seals offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities address life’s challenges and achieve personal goals.
www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)
Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS administers a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail.
www.local.gov/nls/

United Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is the leading source of information on cerebral palsy and is a pivotal advocate for the rights of persons with any disability. As one of the largest health charities in America, the UCP mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities through an affiliate network.
www.ucp.org

Family Genetics

KidsHealth for Parents, Genetic Counseling
KidsHealth is the largest and most visited site on the Web providing doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence. Created by The Nemours Foundation’s Center for Children’s Health Media, the award-winning KidsHealth provides families with accurate, up-to-date, and jargon-free health information they can use.
http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/medical_problems/genetic_counseling.html

National Society of Genetic Counselors
The mission of the National Society of Genetic Counselors is to promote the genetic counseling profession as a recognized and integral part of health care delivery, education, research and public policy.
www.nsgc.org

Healthy Lifestyles

American Dietetic Association
With nearly 65,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being.
http://www.eatright.org/Public/

American Heart Association
The American Heart Association offers information on diet and nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle issues to help people stay healthy.
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200009

American Medical Association, Adolescent Health Web Site
The AMA Adolescent Health Web Site offers a variety of information on various topics including injury prevention, violence and bullying, nutrition and fitness, alcohol, drug, and tobacco use, etc.
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/1947.html

Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs represents state public health leaders and others working to improve the health and well being of women, children, youth and families, including those with special health care needs. AMCHP accomplishes its mission through the active participation of its members and vital partnerships with government agencies, families and advocates, health care purchasers and providers, academic and research professionals, and others at the national, state and local levels.
http://www.amchp.org/

Bright Futures at Georgetown University
Bright Futures is a national health promotion initiative dedicated to the principle that every child deserves to be healthy and that optimal health involves a trusting relationship between the health professional, the child, the family, and the community as partners in health practice.
http://www.brightfutures.org/

Covering Kids & Families
Covering Kids & Families (CKF) works to reduce the number of uninsured children and adults who are eligible for public health care coverage programs but not enrolled. The organization operates through statewide projects in 45 states and the District of Columbia and more than 140 local community projects. In addition, 5 states have CKF liaison grants that provide opportunities to participate in the national CKF initiative.
http://coveringkidsandfamilies.org

HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau
The Maternal and Child Health Bureau is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration. The U.S. Congress enacted Title V of the Social Security Act, which authorized the Maternal and Child Health Services programs and provided a foundation and structure for assuring the health of American mothers and children.
http://mchb.hrsa.gov/

Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health
The Konopka Institute is built on a foundation of research that articulates what has been demonstrated to be effective in healthy youth development. Strategies based on the interrelatedness of youth health problems‚ a commitment to programs that work (“best practices”) or show promise of doing so (“best bets”)‚ and an understanding that adolescents must be viewed in the context of their families and their families in the context of neighborhoods and communities‚ are organizational hallmarks. Building upon these core values, the Konopka Institute is positioned to provide information‚ programs‚ and policy support to the youth-serving community.
http://www.allaboutkids.umn.edu/konopka/

The National Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual an Transgendered Health
The National Coalition for LGBT Health is committed to improving the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and communities through public education, coalition building and advocacy that focuses on research, policy, education and training.
http://www.lgbthealth.net

The President’s Council on Physical Fitness
Fitness.gov is the health, physical activity, fitness and sports information Web site of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. You can find out about the Council and its work, view our publications, and link to the resources of other government agencies as well as to health and fitness organizations.
www.fitness.gov

HIV/AIDS

The Body
The Body.com is a comprehensive Internet resource offering HIV/AIDs information on more than 550 topic areas. The Body’s mission is to use the Web to lower barriers between patients and clinicians; demystify HIV/AIDS and its treatment; improve patients’ quality of life; and foster community through human connection.
www.thebody.com

Campaign to End Aids (C2EA)
The Campaign to End AIDS (C2EA) is a diverse, new coalition of people living with HIV/AIDS, their advocates and their loved ones. Together they are demanding that our leaders exert the political will to stop the epidemic in the U.S. and abroad, once and for all.
www.c2ea.org

HIV AIDS Information National Library on Medicine
A comprehensive AIDS information service is vital to enable people to combat the AIDS epidemic. Scientists, physicians, educators, and other health professionals need rapid access to the latest information on AIDS research, diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention. Consumers require similar access to appropriate information for decision-making about their behavioral choices and treatment. Community-based organizations, clinics and other types of service providers also need access to high quality, accurate and timely information for their staff and clients. The National Library of Medicine (NLM), the world’s largest medical library, has been developing AIDS information services since the AIDS crisis began in 1980.
http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/hiv.html

HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau
The HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) was formed in August 1997 to consolidate all programs funded under the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act. The CARE Act was signed into law on August 15, 1990 to improve the quality and availability of care for people with HIV/AIDS and their families.
http://hab.hrsa.gov

Kaiser Family Foundation
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit, private operating foundation focusing 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.
http://www.kff.org/hivaids/index.cfm

National Association of People With AIDS
Founded in 1983, the National Association of People with AIDS is a non-profit membership organization that advocates on behalf of all people living with HIV and AIDS in order to end the pandemic and the human suffering caused by HIV/AIDS. We are the oldest national AIDS organization in the United States and the oldest national network of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world.
http://www.napwa.org

National Institutes of Health Medline Plus
MedlinePlus is a source of good health information from the world’s largest medical library, the National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus has extensive information from the National Institutes of Health and other trusted sources on over 700 diseases and conditions. There are also lists of hospitals and physicians, a medical encyclopedia and a medical dictionary, health information in Spanish, extensive information on prescription and nonprescription drugs, health information from the media, and links to thousands of clinical trials.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/aids.html

Office of Minority Health
The mission of the Office of Minority Health (OMH) is to improve and protect the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities. OMH was established in 1985 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It advises the Secretary and the Office of Public Health and Science on public health program activities affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders.
http://www.omhrc.gov/hivaidsobservances/hivaidsinfo.html

Project Inform
Project Inform is a national nonprofit, community-based organization working to end the AIDS epidemic. Its mission is to inform people living with HIV, their caregivers and their healthcare and service providers about the treatment and monitoring of HIV disease; to advocate and facilitate research towards a cure and for appropriate policies, legislation and funding for HIV research treatment and care; and inspire people to make informed choices, take effective action in the fight against HIV and choose hope over despair.
www.projectinform.org

Treatment Access Expansion Project (TEAP)
The Treatment Access Expansion Project is committed to improving access to early and comprehensive treatment for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. As part of its mission, TEAP has created a Medicare Part D Toolkit available for downloading.
www.taepusa.org

Living With Illness

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a Federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CMS Administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with the States to administer Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and health insurance portability standards.
www.cms.gov

Council of Nephrology Social Workers
Many people may be in early stages of kidney disease and not know where to find information or help. Once people with chronic kidney disease progress to kidney failure and require dialysis or a transplant, Medicare mandates that each dialysis or transplant patient have access to a masters level social worker. You can information about chronic kidney disease and the Council of Nephrology Social Workers (CNSW) by visiting their Web Site.
www.kidney.org/professionals/CNSW/index.cfm.

National Alliance for Caregiving
The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) is a non-profit coalition created in 1996 to support family caregivers and the professionals who serve them. NAC’s founding partners are the American Society on Aging, the Department of Veterans Affairs, AARP, the National Council on the Aging, and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. Current membership includes more than 40 national organizations.
www.caregiving.org

The National Pain Foundation
The National Pain Foundation, a non-profit organization, was established in 1998 to advance functional recovery of persons in pain through information, education, and support. It’s mission is to be a credible and highly effective resources to empower all persons in pain, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or economic or social status, to improve their lives through education, advocacy, communications networks, and community participation.
www.painconnection.org

Partnership for Parents
The Partnership for Parents is a Web-based support network for parents of children with serious illnesses. The organization’s Web site is designed to be a haven where parents can feel the solace of kindred spirits while finding the information they need to cope with their situation and navigate their difficult journey.
www.partnershipforparents.org

U.S. Department of Labor Office of Worker’s Compensation Programs
The Department of Labor’s Office of Worker’s Compensation Programs administers four major disability compensation programs which provide wage replacement benefits, medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation, and other benefits to federal workers or their dependents who are injured at work or acquire an occupational disease.
Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP)

Pain

American Pain Foundation
Founded in 1997, the American Pain Foundation is an independent nonprofit 501(c)3 organization serving people with pain through information, advocacy, and support. Our mission is to improve the quality of life of people with pain by raising public awareness, providing practical information, promoting research, and advocating to remove barriers and increase access to effective pain management.
www.painfoundation.org

American Chronic Pain Association
The mission of the American Chronic Pain association is to facilitate peer support and education for individuals with chronic pain and their families so that these individuals may live more fully in spite of their pain. The organization raises awareness among the health care community, policy makers and the public at large about issues of living with chronic pain. The association also offers support and information for people with chronic pain.
http://www.theacpa.org/

Cancer-Pain.org
Cancer-pain.org has been developed by ACOR (Association of Cancer Online Resources) with input and advice from patients, caregivers and an Advisory Board of health care professionals dedicated to providing the most advanced cancer pain relief. The organization’s aim is to help cancer patients receive the pain treatment they deserve.

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Kids & Families Resources

	Adoption and Foster Care
	Early Childhood Development
	Family Safety
	Healthy Parenting
	Schools and Communities
	Youth Development

Adoption and Foster Care

Adoption.com and Foster Parenting.com
Adoption.com and Foster Parenting.com are committed to helping as many children as possible find loving, permanent homes. The organizations also provide critical information at the decision-making moment to women facing crisis pregnancies. They assist adoptees and birthparents to find birthfamilies, and we help hopeful adoptive parents make adoption dreams come true. We are especially committed to helping special needs children in the U.S. and around the world, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to find families.
www.adoption.com and www.fosterparenting.com

American Bar Association, Center on Children and the Law
The ABA Center on Children and the law works to improve children’s lives through advances in law, justice, knowledge, practice, and public policy.
http://www.abanet.org/child/home2.html

Casey Family Services
For over 25 years, Casey Family Services has assisted vulnerable children and families. Today, programs operate throughout New England and in Baltimore, Maryland. Casey Family Services is a fully licensed and accredited non-profit child welfare agency providing a broad range of programs to meet the changing needs of vulnerable children and families. Founded in 1976 solely as a source for long-term foster care, Casey Family Services today offers foster care for children, as well as post-adoption, preservation and reunification services for families. In addition, Casey has established a number of specialized and innovative community-based programs to help strengthen families and enable parents to provide the healthy, nurturing environments their children need to grow and thrive.
http://www.caseyfamilyservices.org/

Child Welfare Information Gateway
Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
http://www.childwelfare.gov

Child Welfare League of America
The Child Welfare League of America is an association of more than 900 public and private nonprofit agencies that assist more than 3.5 million abused and neglected children and their families each year with a range of services.
http://signup.cwla.org/cwla/splash/

Early Childhood Development

Afterschool.gov
Afterschool.gov offers one-stop access to government resources that support after school programs. The site is designed for anyone who cares about kids 6-18-providers, parents, and kids and teens. You can find information to help you understand the issues that face kids and teens or fund, start and operate an after school program. You don’t need to know which Federal agency has the information you need– afterschool.gov searched the sites for the information requested most often and put it in easy to use categories. Research studies, news and publications are added as they are released to keep you up to date on what is happening in the field of after school programs
www.afterschool.gov

American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics is dedicated to the attainment of optimal physical, mental and social health and and well-being of all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
www.aap.org/

Headstart Bureau
Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive child development programs that serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families. They are child-focused programs and have the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families.
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/

National Association for the Education of Young Children
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. Founded in 1926, NAEYC is the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children with more than 100,000 members, a national network of nearly 450 local, state, and regional Affiliates, and a growing global alliance of like-minded organizations.
www.naeyc.org

National Association for Family Child Care
The focus of NAFCC is to provide technical assistance to family child care associations. This assistance is provided through developing leadership and professionalism, addressing issues of diversity, and by promoting quality and professionalism through NAFCC’s Family Child Care Accreditation.
www.nafcc.org

National Child Care Information Center
The National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC), a service of the Child Care Bureau, is a national clearinghouse and technical assistance center that links parents, providers, policy-makers, researchers, and the public to early care and education information.
www.nccic.org

National Parent Information Network (NPIN)
The National Parent Information Network (NPIN) provides information to parents and those who work with them. Among the materials available are relevant articles, a question answering service, descriptions of innovative programs, and “Parent News,” an electronic report on timely issues related to parenting and child development.
www.edutopia.org/php/orgs.php?id=ORG_304763

Parents Action for Children
Parents’ Action for Children is the voice of America’s parents. It is a national non-profit dedicated to advancing the interests of families and young children. Parents’ Action develops parent education materials, connects parents with one another, and fights for issues such as early education, health care, and high quality and affordable child care.The online center for information about early childhood development and resources for parents and caregivers.
www.parentsaction.org

Parent Leadership Development Project
The Parent Leadership Development Project (PLD) provides leadership training and support to parents of young children with disabilities (birth to five years). At the same time, the project responds to parents’ continuing need for information about local, state and national resources that exist to support families of young children with disabilities.
www.fpg.unc.edu/~pld/

Family Safety

American Academy of Pediatrics Car Safety Seats Transportation Safety Web Site
Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for children and adolescents ages 1 to 21. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has information on topics ranging from care safety seats to school buses to teen driving.
www.aap.org/healthtopics/carseatsafety.cfm

The American Red Cross
Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation’s premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguished itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services, always with the aim of preventing and relieving suffering.
www.redcross.org

Child Welfare League of America
The Child Welfare League of America is the nation’s oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization. It is committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth and their families; and protecting every child from harm.
www.cwla.org

Domestic Abuse Intervention Services
Domestic Abuse Intervention Services, located in Madison, Wisconsin, offers a 24-hour crisis line, a 25-bed safe house for women and their children, legal advocacy, support groups, information and referrals. DAIS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
www.abuseintervention.org

Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide: Emergencies and First Aid
The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide Web site offers information on basic lifesaving techniques including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, cardiopulmary resuscitation (CPR), medical identification tags, what families should have in a first-aid kit and more.
www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/firstaid/firstaid.shtml

Lambda GLBT Community Services
LAMBDA is a non-profit, gay / lesbian / bisexual / transgender agency dedicated to reducing homophobia, inequality, hate crimes, and discrimination by encouraging self-acceptance, cooperation and non-profit, gay / lesbian / bisexual / transgender agency dedicated to reducing homophobia, inequality, hate crimes, and discrimination by encouraging self-acceptance, cooperation, and non-violence.
www.lambda.org

National Crime Prevention Council
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) is a private, nonprofit tax-exempt organization whose primary mission is to enable people to create safer and more caring communities by addressing the causes of crime and violence and reducing the opportunities for crime to occur. NCPC publishes books, kits of camera-ready program materials, posters, and informational and policy reports on a variety of crime prevention and community-building subjects. NCPC manages the McGruff “Take A Bite Out of Crime” public service advertising campaign.
www.ncpc.org

National Latino Alliance
The mission of the National Latino Alliance is to promote understanding, sustain dialogue, and generate solutions that move toward the elimination of domestic violence affecting Latino communities, with an understanding of the sacredness of all relations and communities.
www.dvalianza.org

National Tribal Justice Resource Center
The National Tribal Justice Resource Center is the largest and most comprehensive site dedicated to tribal justice systems, personnel and tribal law. The Resource Center is the central national clearinghouse of information for Native American and Alaska Native tribal courts, providing both technical assistance and resources for the development and enhancement of tribal justice system personnel. Programs and services developed by the Resource Center are offered to all tribal justice system personnel — whether working with formalized tribal courts or with tradition-based tribal dispute resolution forums.
www.tribalresourcecenter.org

National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
This organization provides resources for professionals, parents and youth working to prevent violence committed by and against young people.
http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/index.asp

Office on Women’s Health, Violence Against Women
The Office on Women’s Health (OWH) was established in 1991 within the US Department of Health and Human Services. OWH coordinates the efforts of all the HHS agencies and office involved in women’s health. OWH works to improve the health and well-being of women and girls in the United States through its innovative programs, educating health professionals, and motivating behavior change in consumers through the dissemination of health information.
http://www.4woman.gov/violence/index.cfm

Parents Anonymous
Parents Anonymous Inc. is the the nation’s oldest child abuse prevention organization, dedicated to strengthening families and building caring communities that support safe and nurturing homes for all children. Parents Anonymous leads a dynamic international network of 267 accredited organizations and local affiliates that implement quality Parents Anonymous Programs for adults and children. Parents Anonymous provides training and technical assistance, develops publications and conducts research on meaningful Parent and Shared Leadership, systems reform and effective community-based strategies to strengthen families.
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Safety House
The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center designed the Safety House Web site to assist parents, grandparents, and young children in recognizing the hazards that can occur within the home. The majority of poisonings and other unintentional injuries can be prevent by following a few simple steps to make the child’s surroundings safe for them at each level of development.
www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/safety-house/

StopAlcoholAbuse.Gov
StopAlcoholAbuse.Gov is a comprehensive portal of Federal resources for information on underage drinking and ideas for combating this issue. People interested in underage drinking prevention — including parents, educators, community-based organizations, and youth-will find a wealth of valuable information here.
www.stopalcoholabuse.gov

Healthy Parenting

Covering Kids & Families
Covering Kids & Families (CKF) works to reduce the number of uninsured children and adults who are eligible for public health care coverage programs but not enrolled. The organization operates through statewide projects in 45 states and the District of Columbia and more than 140 local community projects. In addition, five states have CKF liaison grants that provide opportunities to participate in the national CKF initiative.
http://coveringkidsandfamilies.org

Family Education.com
FamilyEducation.com provides parents parents with school solutions, homework help, parenting tips, and expert advice.
www.familyeducation.com

Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, now in its 10th year, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for ALL students.
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/home.html

National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC)
The National Youth Advocacy Coalition is a social justice organization that advocates for and with young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) in an effort to end discrimination against these youth and to ensure their physical and emotional well being. The National Youth Advocacy Coalition takes a comprehensive approach to improving the lives of LGBTQ youth and operates through a social justice framework.
http://www.nyacyouth.org/

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters and over 500 affiliates in the United States. PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
http://www.pflag.org/

Schools and Communities

Gay, Lesbian and Straight, Education Network (GLSEN)
GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for ALL students. GLSEN strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
www.glsen.org

National Association of Social Workers’ One Teen at a Time Campaign
The National Association of Social Workers’ Web-based public education campaign includes resources and tools to assist professionals, parents and teens in achieving healthy and positive outcomes. The campaign focuses on building the social and emotional skills adolescents need, as well as offering information about diversity and tolerance. The campaign includes information and resources on adolescent health; practical tools for professionals, families and teens; and fun features, such as downloadable posters, bookmarks and stickers.
http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/oneTeen/default.asp

Youth Development

Afterschool.gov
This Web site offers one-stop access to government resources that support after school programs. The site is designed for anyone who cares about kids 6-18-providers, parents, and kids and teens. You can find information to help you understand the issues that face kids and teens or fund, start and operate an after school program.
www.Afterschool.gov

American Youth Policy Forum
The American Youth Policy Forum provides full text reports on community and youth development policy.
American Youth Policy Forum

The Building Partnerships for Youth
The Building Partnerships for Youth Web site includes a database of youth development programs.
Building Partnerships for Youth

Centers for Disease Control Healthy Schools, Healthy Youth Program
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) promotes a Healthy Schools, Health Youth! Program that provides resources to enhance healthy behaviors among adolescents.
Healthy Youth Program

Kids Count
Kids Count, a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is a national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the U.S. By providing policymakers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being, Kids Count seeks to enrich local, state, and national discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all children.
www.aecf.org/kidscount/

Maternal and Child Health Bureau
Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) provides information on health services for children and adolescents. This federal agency also posts national statistics on its Web site.
Maternal and Child Bureau Program

National Association of Social Workers’ One Teen at a Time Campaign
NASW’s One Teen at a Time Campaign provides downloadable fact sheets for parents, teachers and school social workers on bullying, self-esteem, diversity and more. The campaign is part of the national Partnership in Program Planning for Adolescent Health (PIPPAH) Program.

Search Institute
The Search Institute promotes “40 developmental assets” which are positive experiences and personal qualities that young people need to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.
Search Institute

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Addictions Tip Sheet – Quitting Tobacco: Where to Get Help

Introduction

According to the American Cancer Society about half of all Americans who continue to smoke will die because of the habit. Each year, about 438,000 people die in the United States from tobacco use. Nearly one of every five deaths in this country is related to smoking. Cigarettes kill more Americans than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide, and illegal drugs combined.

Fortunately there are many excellent resources available for people who want to quit smoking as well as information on how to help someone else give up cigarettes. Some services are offered free of charge while others, such as individual therapy, may have a cost involved. The goal is to find the resource that works best for you! Although the following list may not include all available resources, it can offer a starting point for anyone seeking more information on how to end tobacco dependence.

One should also consider using multiple resources, such as health professional(s) along with other types of assistance, such as support groups and Internet smoking cessation sites (described below). According to guidelines developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services treatment for tobacco dependence should include practical counseling, social support as part of the treatment, and social support outside of treatment to increase the chances of quitting.

Phone Quit Lines:

Individuals who call this National Quitline number will be forwarded to their state’s quitline for cessation services: 1-800 QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).

Speak with a counselor at National Cancer Institute Smoking Quitline: 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848).

Internet Websites:

The Office on Smoking and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides information for quitting both smoking and smokeless tobacco: www.cdc.gov/tobacco

The Database & Educational Resource for Treatment of Tobacco Dependence site offers information on the treatment of tobacco dependence: www.treatobacco.net/home/home.cfm
National Cancer Institute – Get advice and download cessation information for smoking and smokeless tobacco: www.smokefree.gov/.
American Lung Association provides tobacco related information and the web-based smoking cessation program Freedom From Smoking® Online: www.lungusa.org
The National Institute on Drug Abuse provides information on nicotine and addiction: www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html
For information on children and tobacco, visit the National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids site: www.tobaccofreekids.org
See the National Cancer Institute site for specific topics on tobacco: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/tobacco
See Healthy People 2010 for tobacco related information in your state: http://www.healthypeople.gov/

Local Community Support:

Nicotine Anonymous – Find a meeting: Phone: (415) 750-0328 or www.nicotine-anonymous.org/

American Lung Association community-based group support – To locate where Freedom From Smoking® classes are being held in your community call 1-800-LUNGUSA.

Insurance Coverage and Tobacco Cessation:

This year the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will provide insurance coverage of smoking and other tobacco use cessation to help senior citizens quit the habit. This coverage will pay for a limited number of counseling sessions including sessions led by social workers.

Many insurance companies do not pay the costs for tobacco cessation treatment. However, now that Medicare is providing reimbursement for smoking cessation, other insurance companies may follow their lead.

Contact your insurance company to learn if coverage is provided for Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and/or prescription medications for tobacco cessation.

Other Resources – Professional Help

Primary Care or Specialist Physician. Talk to your physician about concerns regarding tobacco use and advice on how to quit. Many Primary Care Physicians and Specialist Physicians are offering treatment for tobacco dependence in their office.

You can also visit the American Academy of Family Physicians site for information on quitting tobacco: www.familydoctor.org
Dentists. Your dentist can provide information on how smoking affects the gums, mucus lining, and oral cavity area in the mouth.
You can visit the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Researcher’s National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse for information on smokeless tobacco: www.nohic.nider.nih.gov/
Tobacco Addiction Specialists. Clinical Social Workers are among the professionals who specialize in treating tobacco addiction. Social workers who are qualified and specialize in tobacco addiction and cessation can:

Evaluate the need for medications to help with tobacco cessation.
Identify behaviors that must change in order to maintain long-term abstinence from tobacco.
Address the emotional and psychological reasons for tobacco use.
Provide more intensive treatment for individuals who want more than brief cessation counseling.
Offer combined treatment for tobacco cessation with treatment for other forms of addiction and/or mental illness.
Offer individual, group, or family counseling.

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Schizophrenia Resources

The Meninnger Clinic
Menninger is the international psychiatric center of excellence, restoring hope to each person through innovative programs in treatment, research and education. The Menninger Clinic’s Hope Adult Program treats patients with schizophrenia.
www.menningerclinic.com

National Alliance on Mental Illness
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the nation’s voice on mental illness, a national organization including NAMI organizations in every state and in over 1100 local communities across the country who join together to meet the NAMI mission through advocacy, research, support, and education.
www.nami.org

National Institutes of Health
Founded in 1887, the National Institutes of Health today is one of the world’s foremost medical research centers, and the Federal focal point for medical research in the United States. The NIH, comprising 27 separate Institutes and Centers, is one of eight health agencies of the Public Health Service which, in turn, is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Simply described, the goal of NIH research is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability, from the rarest genetic disorder to the common cold.
www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/schizophreniamenu.cfm

National Schizophrenia Foundation
The National Schizophrenia Foundation (NSF) is a not-for-profit consumer-based education and support agency. Incorporated in 1999, the NSF focuses on public awareness, information, and peer support. Its consumer focus is partially grounded in the Foundation’s administration of the national consumer network, Schizophrenics Anonymous (SA). SA self-help support groups, currently numbering 175 throughout the United States, utilize a Six Step, recovery-based program developed by an individual diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Through its public awareness programming, the NSF attempts to reduce the painful stigma that still surrounds people affected by this devastating illness. The NSF sponsors Schizophrenia Awareness Week during the last week of May (Sunday through Saturday) before Memorial Day each year.
www.NSFoundation.org

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Healthy Parenting Resources

Covering Kids & Families
Covering Kids & Families (CKF) works to reduce the number of uninsured children and adults who are eligible for public health care coverage programs but not enrolled. The organization operates through statewide projects in 45 states and the District of Columbia and more than 140 local community projects. In addition, five states have CKF liaison grants that provide opportunities to participate in the national CKF initiative.
http://coveringkidsandfamilies.org

Family Education.com
FamilyEducation.com provides parents parents with school solutions, homework help, parenting tips, and expert advice.
www.familyeducation.com

National Center for Fathering
The mission of the National Center for Fathering is to improve the well-being of children by inspiring and equipping men to be more effectively involved in the lives of children. In response to a dramatic trend towards fatherlessness in America, the Center was founded in 1990 by Dr. Ken Canfield to conduct research on fathers and fathering, and to develop practical resources to prepare dads for nearly every fathering situation.
www.fathers.com

National Fatherhood Initiative
National Fatherhood Initiative’s mission is to improve the well being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible, and committed fathers. We accomplish our mission through: (1) educating and inspiring all Americans, especially fathers, through public awareness campaigns, research, and other resources; (2) equipping and developing leaders of national, state, and community fatherhood initiatives through curricula, training, and technical assistance; and (3) engaging every sector of society through strategic alliances and partnerships.
www.fatherhood.org

National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC)
The National Youth Advocacy Coalition is a social justice organization that advocates for and with young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) in an effort to end discrimination against these youth and to ensure their physical and emotional well being. The National Youth Advocacy Coalition takes a comprehensive approach to improving the lives of LGBTQ youth and operates through a social justice framework.
http://www.nyacyouth.org/

SAMHSA Family Guide
SAMHSA.gov is a public education Web site, developed to support the efforts of parents and other caring adults to promote mental health and prevent the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs among 7- to 18-year-olds.
http://family.samhsa.gov/

Stop It Now!
Stop It Now!was founded in 1992 by Fran Henry, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, who recognized that standard ideas about preventing sexual abuse of children weren’t working. Stop It Now! believes that all adults must accept the responsibility to recognize, acknowledge and confront the behaviors that lead to the sexual abuse of children. The organization offers adults tools they can use to prevent sexual abuse – before there’s a victim to heal or an offender to punish. For more than 10 years, its national toll-free Helpline (1-888-PREVENT) has provided thousands of adults a unique outlet to confidentially voice their concerns. Stop It Now! provides support, information and resources that enable individuals and families to keep children safe and to create healthier communities.
www.stopitnow.org

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Family Safety Resources

CDC Guide to Community Preventive Services
Every day, children witness, hear about, or directly experience traumatic events. These can be single or repeated events, on an individual or a mass scale (e.g., a homicide versus a plane crash); they can be natural or manmade (e.g., a tsunami versus a bombing); and they can be intentional or unintentional (e.g., rape versus severe illness). The CDC has conducted a systematic review of seven common interventions to reduce harm among children and adolescents exposed to trauma. Before this review was conducted, many professionals who work with youth who have been exposed to trauma did not know whether the therapies they used were effective.
www.thecommunityguide.org

Choose Respect
Choose Respect is an initiative sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control to help adolescents form healthy relationships to prevent dating abuse before it starts. This national effort is designed to motivate adolescents to challenge harmful beliefs about dating abuse and take steps to form respectful relationships.
www.chooserespect.org

Homelessness Resource Center
The Homelessness Resource Center is an interactive community of providers, consumers, policymakers, researchers, and public agencies at federal, state, and local levels. We share state-of-the art knowledge and promising practices to prevent and end homelessness through:
training and technical assistance, publications and materials, on-line learning opportunities and networking and collaboration.
http://www.homeless.samhsa.gov/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

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Adoption and Foster Care Resources

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Stress Management Resources

Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
The National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was created within the Department of Veterans Affairs in 1989, in response to a Congressional mandate to address the needs of veterans with military-related PTSD. Its mission was, and remains: To advance the clinical care and social welfare of America’s veterans through research, education, and training in the science, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and stress-related disorders. This website is provided as an educational resource concerning PTSD and other enduring consequences of traumatic stress.
www.ncptsd.va.gov

National Institutes of Health Medline Plus
MedlinePlus, is a resource of health information from the world’s largest medical library, the National Library of Medicine. Health professionals and consumers alike can depend on it for information that is authoritative and up to date. MedlinePlus has extensive information from the National Institutes of Health and other trusted sources on over 700 diseases and conditions. There are also lists of hospitals and physicians, a medical encyclopedia and a medical dictionary, health information in Spanish, extensive information on prescription and nonprescription drugs, health information from the media, and links to thousands of clinical trials.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stress.html

National Mental Health Association
The National Mental Health Association is the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. With more than 340 affiliates nationwide, NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans, especially the 54 million people with mental disorders, through advocacy, education, research and service.
www.nmha.org

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Relationship Resources

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) is the professional association for the field of marriage and family therapy. AAMFT represents the professional interests of more than 23,000 marriage and family therapists throughout the United States, Canada and abroad.
www.aamft.org

American Mental Health Counselor Association
The mission of the American Mental Health Counselor Association is to enhance the profession of mental health counseling through licensing, advocacy, education and professional development.The organization represents licensed mental health counselors and state chapters, with consistent standards of education, training, licensing, practice, advocacy and ethics.
www.AMHCA.org

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Obsessions and Compulsions Resources

Anxiety Disorders Association of America
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the prevention, treatment and cure of anxiety disorders and to improve the lives of all people who suffer from them.”
www.adaa.org

Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation
The Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation (OCF), with more than 10,000 members, is an international not-for-profit organization composed of people with obsessive compulsive disorder and related disorders, their families, friends, professionals and other concerned individuals.
www.ocfoundation.org

OCDOnline.com
This web site is exclusively devoted to promoting a greater understanding of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder’s (OCD) treatment and mental processes. The creator of this site, Dr. Steven Phillipson, recognizes that OCD is still minimally understood by the vast majority of mental health professionals. Although the most commonly known forms of OCD (contamination and checking) have received the greatest amount of media and research attention, lessor known forms of OCD (i.e. the purely obsessional type and the responsibility OC) make up a very large proportion of the clinical population. The articles presented here represent state of the art conceptual understanding and treatment approaches developed for mainstream and lessor studied forms of OCD.
www.ocdonline.com

HealthyPlace.com
This Web Site provides information on children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorders.
www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Anxiety/children_ocd.asp

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