Health Resources

Community and NYC Focused Organizations

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - web site is a good general resource for health information and solutions.

nycHealthy - is a new online forum where people can talk to each other and to experts about health-related issues.

The Center for Community Change - is a national non- profit organization whose mission is to provide assistance to community organizations working in low-income and predominantly minority communities across the country to build their power and capacity to change the institutions and policies that shape their lives.

Community Voices - Health Care for the Underserved is a group of community-based demonstration projects dedicated to finding real-life ways to provide greater access to quality health care to the underserved and uninsured people in America.

State Government Information

New York State Department of Health - web site. Health solutions and information supported by NY State.

The Community Health Care Association of New York State - provides information about clinical excellence, health information technology, emergency preparedness, and is dedicated to eliminating health care disparities. CHCANYS’ goal is to provide community health centers with the resources needed to provide high quality, community-based primary care to anyone in need regardless of their ability to pay.

Mental Health Association of NY State - This site provides links to helpful mental health-related web sites

Federal Government Information

USA.gov: The US Government's Official Web Portal - provides federal government information in regards to jobs, benefits, grants, voting registration, taxes and etc...

The Health Resources and Services Administration - (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.

Health Information Links

Flu.gov - know what to do about the flu. - is a one-stop resource with the latest updates on the H1N1 flu. Flu.gov H1N1 portal provides you with up-to-date information about the new 2009 H1N1 virus, and also gives you some easy-to-read information with the hope that it will reach people who need it the most.

The Influenza tutorial - is a Patient Education Institute Inc Publication about the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of the flu. The information is presented in flash interactive, video, or pdf.

The National Health Information Center (NHIC) - is a health information referral service. NHIC puts health professionals and consumers who have health questions in touch with those organizations that are best able to provide answers.

Pub Med search - is a Entrez resource. Entrez is the text-based search and retrieval system used at NCBI for services including PubMed, Nucleotide and Protein Sequences, Protein Structures, Complete Genomes, Taxonomy, OMIM, and many others.

Healthy People - 2010 challenges individuals, communities, and professionals, indeed all of us to take specific steps to ensure that good health, as well as long life, are enjoyed by all.

National Network of Libraries of Medicine - (NN/LM) Provides a range of useful health information from medical journals to an Emergency Preparedness and Response Tool Kit

Healthfinder.gov - An encyclopedia of over 1,600 health topics from the most trusted sources.

National Association of Health Data Organizations (NAHDO) - provides leadership in health care information management and analysis, promotes the availability of and access to health data, and encourages the use of these data to make informed decisions and guide the development of health policy.

The Cochrane Collaboration - Provides information on improving healthcare decision- making globally, through systematic reviews of the effects of healthcare interventions, published in The Cochrane Library.

AARP - Provides timely and useful information on a range of programs and activities affecting older Americans including Medicare and Medicaid.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - This government agency is a key source of information on health data collection.

Alliance for Health Reform - A non-partisan, non-profit group, the Alliance advocates no particular blueprint for changing American health care. The organization pursues the tandem goals of extending health coverage to all Americans and containing health care costs.

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information: The website of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHA) provides a range of articles and detailed information.

State Children's Health Insurance Program: The federal government's special website for information on the State Children's Health Insurance program.

Center for Mental Health Services - Examine effort to treat mental illness and improve mental health.

The Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of virtually every type of complex illness.

The CDC - portal is for information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health – through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats.

American Academy of Family Physicians - Broad range of information regarding the body and common conditions, diseases, disorders, and resources for health care professionals (clinical and health care issues).

Primary Care Development Corporation - (PCDC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to expanding access to timely, effective primary and preventive care by providing capital and performance improvement programs to primary care providers in underserved communities.

American Medical Association - Lists all licensed physicians in the U.S., including board certification, and general health information.

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) - Provides news and information for people affected by rare diseases.

American Cancer Society - Provides information and resources for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Prostate and Lung.

American Heart Association - Provides information and resources on Heart Disease and Prevention.

The Healthy Heart Guide: The healthy Heart Guide web site offers resources on a wide variety of subjects including heart disease risk factors, lowering cholesterol, healthy nutrition and physical activity.

Health and Aging

General Health Issues - The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies offers reports and resources in 17 topic areas including child health, food and nutrition, aging, women's health and military and veterans' health issues.

Increasing Physical Activities - The U.S. Department of Agriculture Physical Activity My Pyramid web page discusses many facets of physical activity, including tips for increasing physical activity, how many calories are used in activities and how much physical activity is needed.

Positive Healthy Aging - The Healthy Aging web page is designed to broaden awareness of the positive aspects of aging and to provide information and inspiration for adults, age 50 and older, to improve physical, mental, social, and financial fitness.

Information About Aging - Age Page flyers are available for downloading from the National Institute on Aging on a range of subjects including falls and fractures, foot care, healthy eating and safe use of medicines.

Get Fit on Route 66 - The AARP has developed a fun way to increase physical activity with Get Fit on Route 66 in which participants "travel" down the historic highway from Chicago to California by recording on-line their daily exercise minutes.

Bronx Healthy Hearts - The Bronx Health Reach web site features a healthy heart section which includes an initiative to encourage restaurants to choose healthier options on their menus, including a "Bronx Healthy Hearts Restaurant Week" celebration to promote these restaurants by offering free samples of healthy food items and health related information.

Alternative Medicine information:

Natural Solutions Vibrant Health Balanced Living - This is the on-line version of Alternative Medicine Digest.

Community Gardening Tool Kit - The University of Missouri has released a 16 page Community Gardening Tool Kit which contains information on how to start a community garden, steps to success, benefits of garden, resources and more. Also, available is a Gardener's Welcome Packet for organizing your garden, introducing new gardeners to the policies, procedures and people that keep the garden running smoothly, and keeping returning gardeners updated and involved.

Healthy Eating and Physical Activity - The New York State Health Eating and Physical Activity Alliance is a new statewide organization dedicated to improving policy and practices that promote healthy eating and physical activity. Goals include enhancing communication among those working to improve nutrition and physical activity, increasing funding for obesity prevention efforts and improving policies that promote healthier eating, including those that encourage breastfeeding.

Improving Student Health - Fit & Healthy Schools is committed to improving student and parent awareness of the need for physical activity and healthy nutrition.

Promoting Health in the School Environment - Alliance for a Healthier Generation is an initiative of the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation that provides free resources to help promote a healthier school environment. The alliance focuses on preventing childhood obesity and creating healthier lifestyles for all children and targets several areas to spark change and reduce the increasing rates of childhood obesity in the U.S.

BAM for Young People - The BAM (Body and Mind) web site was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to tell young people "all you need to know about all that matters" including nutrition, physical activity, peer pressure and safety. Resources include downloadables for teachers.

Understanding Head Start - the purpose of Head Start Body Start is to increase physical activity, outdoor play, and healthy eating among Head Start and Early Head Start Center children, families, and staff.

Technology Information

The Organizers' Collaborative - is a Boston- based organization established in 1999 to promote better use of technology by social change organizations throughout the US.