Native American health/public health resources
American Indian/Alaska Native Health Resource Sampler
http://nnlm.gov/pnr/samplers/natamer.html
List of resources relating to American Indian/Alaska Native Health compiled
by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region
(NN/LM PNR) staff. Resources are organized under general and cultural resources,
government resources, some traditional medicine resources, other resources,
Native American mailing lists, and information resources from the National
Library of Medicine.
MEDLINEplus: Native-American Health (National Library of Medicine)
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/nativeamericanhealth.html
Any list of resources from the National Library of Medicine is always of
high quality and useful. Resources are listed under the following categories:
Latest News, From the National Institutes of Health, Clinical Trials, Specific
Conditions, Prevention/Screening, Nutrition, Research, Directories, Organizations,
Law and Policy, Statistics, Women and Children. To do a PubMed search on
Native-American Health simply click the "Search MEDLINE/PubMed for
recent research articles on Native-American
Health." This search has
been pre-compiled so that you do not need to create the search yourself.
It will retrieve the most recent research articles.
Health and Nonprofit Corporations
http://health.hss.state.ak.us/dph/targets/ha2010/volume3/native.htm#health
A
listing of the various health and nonprofit corporations in Alaska.
Alaska Native Health Board
http://www.anhb.org/
The Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB), established in 1968, "is recognized
as the statewide voice on Alaska Native health issues. The purpose of the
Alaska Native Health Board is to promote the spiritual, physical, mental,
social, and cultural well-being and pride of Alaska Native people. ANHB
is a 23-member board entity, consisting of one elected or selected representative
of the Board of Directors or health committees of Alaska's Native regional
health organizations and independent tribal public Law 93-638 compactors/contractors.
The Health Directors of the regional health organizations serve as technical
advisors to ANHB." This information-rich site has content on a variety
of topics including child abuse and neglect, epidemiology, HIV/AIDS prevention,
solid waste management and tobacco cessation programs. Links, publications
and ANHB contacts, news and priorities complete the site.
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
http://www.anthc.org/
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium "is a nonprofit, statewide
organization that provides a range of medical and community health services
for more than 120,000 Alaska Natives. It is part of the Alaska Tribal Health
System, which is owned and managed by the 229 federally recognized tribes
in Alaska and by their respective regional health organizations." Look
for information about patient and community services, jobs and training,
and links to related resources.
Bureau of Indian Affairs (U.S.)
http://www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs.html
List of resources of interest to Native Americans including cultural Web
sites, declarations, government, inter-Tribal organizations, and environment
Web sites. Unfortunately the site has been temporarily closed down at this
time due to the Cobell Litigation. When the site is available it is worth
visiting for its content.
Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.ihs.gov/
The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health
and Human Services, "is responsible for providing federal health services
to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The provision of health services
to members of federally-recognized tribes grew out of the special government-to-government
relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes. The IHS currently
provides health services to approximately 1.5 million American Indians and
Alaska Natives who belong to more than 557 federally recognized tribes in
35 states." This content-rich site offers viewers an introduction to
the agency, to the Children's
Health Insurance Program (CHIP), to clinical
practice guidelines, to fact sheets, to health care information and to Medicaid
and Medicare information. Of special interest are the links to the Native
Health History Database (NHHD), "a centralized, nationally accessible,
computerized information database containing complete bibliographic information
and abstracts on historical Native American and Alaska Native medical/health
research reports covering a time period from 1652 to 1970" and to the
Native Health Research Database (NHRD), a joint venture between the Indian
Health Service and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Library.
The Native Health Research Database "is a database of resource documents
and other materials from approximately 1970 to the present time for tribal
health professionals and health care practitioners working with Native American
populations." Those providing health promotion services to Native Americans
will find the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention link useful for information
on primary prevention focus areas and on the work of the Preventive Task
Force.
Public Health Competencies
Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (Tool)
http://trainingfinder.org/competencies/
This Web page links you to work done on the Competencies Feedback Project
by the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice.
The most recent list of Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals,
revised early in 2004 is accessible by clicking on the Competencies list.
View the list of core competencies with and without the skill levels and
by the Essential Public Health Services in PDF and in HTML.
PHPPO (CDC) Listing of Discipline-Specific Competency Sets for Professional
Health Workers
http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/owpp/mtgwrkgrp091201.asp
Linking page providing access to links to core and discipline-specific competency
sets.
Competencies for Public Health Workers: A Collection of Competency
Sets of Public Health-Related Occupations and Professions (PDF)
http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/owpp/docs/compgrid0829.pdf
Extensive collection of competency sets covering Core - Basic Public Health
competencies (addresses the essential services of public health), New Topical
Areas competencies (emergency response, genomics, law), Functional Areas
competencies (leadership, management, supervisory, secretarial), Discipline-Specific
competencies (professional, technical, entry-level, student), and Other
Topical Areas (MCH, STD, etc.).
Facts and Research/Workforce Capacity (PHF). Revised Jun
28, 2004.
http://www.phf.org/infrastructure/phfpage.php?page_id=33&pp_id=21
From the Public Health Foundation's Public Health Infrastructure Resource
Center comes this list of top and general resources providing facts and
research about the public health workforce.
The Future of the Public's Health in the 21st Century (2002)
Board on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP), Institute of Medicine
(IOM). (Appendix) E. Competencies for Public Health Workers: A Collection
of Competency Sets for Public Health-Related Occupations and Professions.
National Academies Press.
http://books.nap.edu/books/030908704X/html/423.html
The Annual Public Health Workforce Development Meeting developed this table
of competency sets of public health-related occupations and professions
for its June 2001 meeting. It was revised January 2003.
The Public Health Workforce: an Agenda for the 21st Century. A Report
of the Public Health Functions Project. [n.d.] 61 pages
http://www.health.gov/phfunctions/pubhlth.pdf
The Subcommittee … "is charged with providing a profile of the
current public health workforce and making projections regarding the workforce
of the 21st century." …[T]he Subcommittee should examine the
current and future shortfalls in the public health workforce, looking broadly
at Federal, State and local levels, in public health departments as well
as mental health, substance abuse, and environmental health agencies and
at the emerging need for public health competencies in managed care systems,
health plans, and in other governmental agencies such as departments of
agriculture, education, and justice. The Subcommittee should also address
training and education issues including curriculum development for graduate
training in public health and ongoing training and development activities
to ensure a competent workforce to perform the essential functions of public
health now and in the future." The report examines the context and
future directions of the public health workforce. Included is information
on leadership issues, curriculum development and the importance of distance
learning.
The Public Health Workforce Enumeration 2000
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/nursing/chphsr/enum2000.pdf
This document, prepared for the Health Resources and Services Administration
by the Center for Health Policy at the Columbia University School of Nursing,
is a valuable resource for "providing a current best estimate of the
size and composition of the public health workforce at the local, state
and national levels. It includes workers in official agencies and voluntary
organizations.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: Key to Public Health Infrastructure, by Kristine
Gebbie. (Power Point Presentation).
http://www.astdhpphe.org/PlanforSuccess/files/002_gebbie.ppt
This PowerPoint presentation is a good accompaniment to the document, The
Public Health Workforce Enumeration 2000.
Workforce development and e-learning
Public Health Workforce Development - TRAIN - TrainingFinder Real-time Affiliate
Integrated Network (PHF). July 25, 2004.
http://www.phf.org/phworkforce.htm
The TrainingFinder Real-time Affiliate Integrated Network (TRAIN) "is
a unique web-based learning management solution for public health organizations
that need to rapidly increase their training capacity by creating a searchable
clearinghouse of on-site (classroom) training and distance learning opportunities
available within their jurisdictions and across the country." The TRAIN
system "integrates national, state, and local public health continuing
education and training initiatives into a coordinated, nationwide learning
system, building on an expanded version of the TrainingFinder.org web-based
infrastructure." Includes bioterrorism preparedness courses. The site
for national training links is TRAINNational <http://www.train.org/DesktopShell.aspx>.
The TRAIN link for Montana is TRAINMontana <http://montana.train.org/DesktopShell.aspx> Use
TRAIN to find and register for courses, track personal learning, and access
valuable training and learning materials. Also of interest for public health
professionals are the training materials available as books, print-based
self study courses, video courses, videotapes and other learning content.
These are available from the Public Health Foundation's Training Resource
Center <http://bookstore.phf.org/>.
TrainingFinder.org - Resources for Course Developers
http://www.trainingfinder.org/user.cgi?action=display_resources
Valuable set of links for those developing online learning. Major section
links include: General, Development
of Distance Learning, Delivery
of Distance Learning, Evaluation
of Distance Learning. Also available is a Message
Board where documents and tips on how to develop, deliver, and evaluate distance
learning can be shared.
Who Will Keep the Public Healthy? Educating Public Health Professionals
for the 21st Century (2003)
Board on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP), Institute of Medicine
(IOM) National Academy Press.
http://books.nap.edu/books/030908542X/html/index.html
Published by the National Academy Press this book covers the following six
topics: 1. Introduction; 2. History
and Current Status of Public Health
Education in the United States; 3. The Future
of Public Health Education;
4. Future
Role of Schools of Public Health in Educating Public Health Professionals
for the 21st Century; 5. The Need
for Public Health Education in Other Programs
and Schools; and 6. Public
Health Agencies: Their Roles in Educating Public
Health Professionals. Eight appendices. Numerous mentions of the role and
importance to public health practitioners of distance learning.
Workshops-in-a-Box (facilitated distance learning modules) CDC
http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/nltn/wibs_info.aspx
List of modules for chemical and biological preparedness. Training requires
students, a qualified facilitator, a copy machine, and depending on the
module selected: a 35-mm slide projector (or a VCR and TV monitor), and
an audiotape player. Contact the National Laboratory Training Network at
(312) 793-3306 or 1-800-536-NLTN for additional information on these training
modules.
Emerging Diseases: Mad Cow Disease
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in a Dairy Cow --- Washington State,
2003, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 52(53):1280-1285, January
9, 2004.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5253a2.htm
This Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report article announced the single
case of BSE in Washington State in a downer cow imported from Canada.
Case of BSE in the United States: Chronology of Events (USDA)
http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2003/12/bsechronology.htm
Unsure of how the outbreak of "mad cow disease" unfolded?
Visit this chronology of events beginning with the arrival of the non-ambulatory
dairy cow at the slaughter plant on December 9, 2003 and ending with
the discovery January 21 of another animal that is part of a group
of 17 heifers originally dispersed from the Canadian source herd in
August 2001.
Animal Health. Washington State Department of Agriculture.
http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/AnimalFeed/BSE.htm
The Washington State Department of Agriculture created a Web site to
answer the public's questions about BSE. Topics include a description
of BSE, preventing the spread of BSE, BSE and food safety, BSE and
Livestock feed, BSE and human health, BSE in Canada, protecting pets
from BSE, a FAQ about BSE and links to related resources on BSE.
Bovine Spongiform Enephalophy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/cjd/cjd.htm
An extensive list of articles and related information and resources
on BSE and CJD from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), U.S. Dept. of Agriculture,
Foreign Agriculture Service.
http://www.fas.usda.gov/dlp/BSE/bse.html
The purpose of this page is to provide sources of information on the
effects of BSE on trade. Provided are links to main
BSE pages for various government and organization sites, as well as links to related documents
such as special reports, regulations, and announcements. Major links,
updated as information is available, cover Canada, the European
Union and the United
States. Types of information include press releases
and reports, technical briefings, Federal Register Notices, guidance
for exporters, BSE Update statements, BSE Risk Assessment Results,
and guidelines. BSE government and organization information sites in
the areas listed above.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in Washington State: Information
and Updates
http://www.fas.usda.gov/bse04.htm
Long list of statements, technical briefings, press releases and other
documents relevant to BSE in Washington State.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) - World Health Organization,
Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response (CSR)
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/bse/en/
This page from WHO provides a succinct description of what BSE is and
how it is transmitted with additional links to related resources.
Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), UK -BSE
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/index.html
BSE was first recognized and defined in the United Kingdom in November
1986. It subsequently spread until it affected all parts of the country
to a greater or lesser extent. DEFRA offers background information
on BSE, on its control and eradication, on export and trade, public
health issues, publications, statistics and on the research that is
being done on the disease.
National Electronic Disease Surveillance System
http://www.cdc.gov/nedss/
The National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) “is an
initiative that promotes the use of data and information system standards
to advance the development of efficient, integrated, and interoperable surveillance
systems at federal, state and local levels. It is a major component of the
Public Health Information Network (PHIN).” This site will advance
the coordination of surveillance of disease outbreaks at the local, state
and federal levels. View the NEDSS architecture, data models and vocabularies
and examine the base system and specifications. Information on security
standards and procedures as well as NEDSS project information can be viewed
on the site.
Performance Standards
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Framework for Program Evaluation
in Public Health. MMWR 1999;48(No. RR-11).
http://www.cdc.gov/eval/framework.htm
Effective program evaluation "is a systematic way to improve and account
for public health actions that involves procedures that are useful, feasible,
ethical, and accurate. The framework guides public health professionals
in their use of program evaluation. It is a practical, nonprescriptive tool,
designed to summarize and organize essential elements of program evaluation.
The framework comprises steps in program evaluation practice and standards for effective program evaluation." This Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report from the CDC's Evaluation Working Group covers a variety of topics
including how to assign value, steps and standards, applying the framework
and available formats. A nice graphic provides an overview of the framework.
ASTHO National Public Health Performance Standards
http://www.astho.org/?template=performance_measurement.html
The National Public Health Performance Standards “are optimal measurable
standards that public health systems can use to assess the delivery of essential
public health services. The primary goal is to promote quality improvement,
while focusing on systems performance and capacity. use of these instruments
can result in stronger connections among public health system partners,
greater awareness of the interconnectedness of public health activities,
and the identification of strengths and weaknesses that can be addressed
through improvement efforts.” Links to performance assessment instruments
for the state, local and international level and to CDC’s National
Public Health Performance Standards Program.
Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) (NACCHO)
http://mapp.naccho.org/MAPP_Home.asp
Registered public health professionals can obtain access to the MAPP protocol
for use in their health departments to improve the health of their communities.
Assessment Protocol for Excellence in Public Health (APEXPH) (NACCHO)
http://www.naccho.org/project47.cfm
APEXPH was developed in the early 1990s “to be used voluntarily by
local health officials to assess the organization and management of the
health department, provide a framework for working with community members
and other organizations in assessing the health status of the community,
and establish the leadership role of the health department in the community.
APEXPH is a flexible tool and its concepts can be easily integrated with
other planning tools.” This site describes the tool.
National Public Health Performance Standards Program (NPHPSP) (NACCHO)
http://www.naccho.org/project48.cfm
The National Public Health Performance Standards Program (NPHPSP) “is
a collaborative effort to enhance the Nation’s public health systems.
Seven national public health organizations (APHA, ASTHO, CDC, NACCHO, NALBOH,
PHF, and NNPHI) have partnered to develop national performance standards
for state and local public health systems. The goal of the program is to
improve the quality of public health practice and performance of public
health systems.” Examine the available program resources, publications
and multimedia and read the news and calendar highlights of the program.
Turning Point Project. The Guidebook for Performance Measurement,
by Patricia Lichiello. December 1999.
http://www.rwjf.org/research/files/TurningPointPerformanceMeasure.pdf
This excellent publication by Ms Lichiello describes what performance measurement
is, discusses why it is important to measure performance, lists the key
components required to design an effective performance measurement process,
and outlines how to report results. A Glossary of terms is provided for
reference.
National Public Health Performance Standards Program, CDC
http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/nphpsp/
The NPHPS Program “is a National Partnership initiative that has developed
National Public Health Performance Standards for state and local public
health systems and for public health governing bodies. This site provides
information on the NPHPS Program, the National Partners, and the resources
available to support performance assessment and systems improvement. NPHPS
Program and National Partner staffs offer technical assistance, performance
assessment analysis reports, and systems planning services to users of our
assessment instruments.” Performance instruments and an extensive
tool kit are available for use. The tool kit includes a sample report, videos
and presentations.
National Quality Measures Clearinghouse
http://www.qualitymeasures.ahrq.gov/
The National Quality Measures Clearinghouse™ (NQMC™), sponsored
by the Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, “is a database and Web site for information
on specific evidence-based health care quality measures and measure sets.
NQMC is sponsored by AHRQ to promote widespread access to quality measures
by the health care community and other interested individuals.” A
good glossary of terms and other helpful tools make this site worth a visit.
National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC™)
http://www.guideline.gov/
The National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC™) is "a public
resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. NGC is an initiative
of the Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services. NGC was originally created by AHRQ in partnership
with the American Medical Association and the American
Association of Health Plans (now America's Health Insurance Plans [AHIP])." Get news, access
to a variety of resources including bioterrorism guidelines, a discussion
list, FAQs, a glossary and other guidelines available in their guideline
archive and through the search engine.
Performance Standards in Public Health Systems: The Washington State
Standards Discussion Draft July 18, 2002. Prepared for the PHIP Standards Committee
by MCPP Healthcare Consulting And PRR, Inc.
http://www.doh.wa.gov/PHIP/documents/Standards/
StandardsPerformanceStandardsinPHSystems.pdf
This PDF document defines performance measurement, offers a range of approaches
to measuring system performance, describes how performance standards have
been applied to public health nationally and describes the application to
Washington State. Washington State's use of the evaluation results in the
future is also described.
Building and using community coalitions to address public health issues
Building and Maintaining Community Coalitions On Behalf of Children, Youth
and Families, by Joanne Keith, Ph.D, et al. March 1998.
http://crs.uvm.edu/nnco/collab/buildcoal1.html
This project report was written for the Community Coalitions in Action,
Institute for Children, Youth and Families, Michigan State University. The
online version is divided into three sections. The report documents examples
of collaborative efforts in Michigan which addressed the needs of children
and youth in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Current data is offered on
the status of children and youth in Michigan. A framework for understanding
community collaborations is described and an in-depth review of thirteen
collaborations is provided as they demonstrate best practices.
Strength in Numbers: A Guide to Building Coalitions. August 2003.
http://www.communitycatalyst.org/acrobat/Guide-Building-Coalitions.pdf
Community Catalyst "is a national advocacy organization that builds
consumer and community participation in the shaping of our health system
to ensure quality, affordable health care for all." Three major sections
make up this 24 page PDF document: I. Introduction to Community Coalitions;
II. Organizing a Community Coalition; and III. Factors that Affect Coalition
and two appendices make up the bulk of the document.
Guide to Building Community Coalitions. August 2004.
http://www.communitycatalyst.org/index.php?fldID=216
This guide "was written to assist anyone interested in building community
coalitions. In this guide, readers will find helpful information on many
relevant topics, such as how to establish a strong and stable coalition
foundation, how to enhance the coalition by developing a broad and diverse
membership, and how to increase the effectiveness and lifespan of the coalition.
Toward the end of the guide, two appendices have been included. Appendix
A lists several types of groups to target to build a stronger and more diverse
community coalition. Appendix B is essentially a checklist of items to include
in a media kit publicizing your community coalition. Finally, a list of
resources is included for further reading on many of the issues discussed
in the guide." Available in PDF.
Community Building Tools
http://ctb.ku.edu/tools/
Over 200 sections of practical and detailed information about how to do
the work of promoting community health and development can be found at the
Community Toolbox.
Health Educator's Bookshelf - Community Mobilization
http://www.doh.wa.gov/here/bookshelf/bookshelf.asp?ID=2&CAT=Community+Mobilization
Set of references to books on community mobilization from the Health Education
Resource Exchange (H.E.R.E. in Washington) database.
Maintaining Momentum with Community Leadership Groups and Coalitions, U.S.
DHHS, HRSA, Bureau of Primary Health Care
http://bphc.hrsa.gov/osnp/CommunityLeaders.htm
Best practices from community leaders. Suggestions include: "Hold high
aspirations - and don't feel like you need to apologize for them," and "Ask
(insist) that people contribute." A list of 12 Elements of Successful
Coalitions is a valuable addition to the best practices.
Geographic Information Systems
GIS and Public Health, National Center for Health Statitics
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/gis.htm
GIS and Public Health is "a Web site designed to provide information
on GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, at NCHS and in the larger public
health community. On this page, you can access current or past reports
of Public Health GIS News and Information, selected
maps, a calendar
of GIS and related events, and links to
related sites."
Public Health GIS News and Information
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/otheract/gis/gis_publichealthinfo.htm
Public Health GIS News and Information "is a bimonthly, electronic
report "dedicated to scientific excellence and advancement in disease
control and prevention through the use of Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) technology." The report, which began in 1994, "provides
timely information on a variety of GIS topics, including technical and outreach
assistance; notification of relevant professional meetings, events, and
conferences; communication from GIS users; Web developments; and public
health GIS literature."
GIS in Public Health, GISLounge
http://gislounge.com/ll/publichealth.shtml
This sub-page of a larger GIS site provides "[l]eads on articles, research
and tools for the application of GIS to public health issues. Find out why
health organizations find GIS to be an invaluable tool."
Improving Public Health Through Geographical Information Systems:
An Instructional Guide to Major Concepts and Their Implementation. Web Version 1.0 December,
1997.
http://www.uiowa.edu/~geog/health/
This online course, also available on CD-ROM, shows the key steps in performing
a detailed analysis of health data using GIS. A reference library, GIS lab
and lecture hall with two lectures is makes thye role of GIS in public health
more understandable.
GIS for Health and Human Services, ESRI.
http://www.esri.com/industries/health/
ESRI is one of the many GIS software applications on the market. This page
links to demonstrations of how GIS can be used in public health, hospitals
and managed care. News, publications and success stories are available for
reading.
Geographic Information Systems in Public Health, ATSDR
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/gis/conference98/gisindex.html
This is a collection of news, broadcasts, conference proceedings and links
to public health uses of GIS assembled by ATSDR staff. The links section
is quite useful with links to commercial and non-commercial data, county,
federal and U.S. GIS resources, software, map servers and Arc View resources.
GIS Portal
http://www.gisportal.com/
Large list of sites assembled on seventeen different topical areas including
jobs, data and software, breaking news, services, Federal, State and Local
sites, and on GPS, remote sensing and space.
Public Health Mapping, World Health Organization, Communicable Disease
Surveillance & Response (CSR)
http://www.who.int/csr/mapping/en/
Describes GIS and public health mapping, GIS tools, country support, how
mapping is used in the World Health Organization. A list of information
resources includes links to services, GIS mapping activities, Internet discussion
groups, publications and articles.
Injury Maps, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/maps/
Injury Maps, CDC Injury Center's interactive mapping system, "gives
you access to the geographic distribution of injury-related mortality rates
in the the United States. Injury Maps allows you to create county-level
and state-level maps of age-adjusted mortality rates for the entire United
States and for individual states."
EPA EnviroMapper
http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/em/index.html
Use EnviroMapper and related GIS applications to learn more about the environmental
conditions and features of your community. Type in your ZIP code and select
what to map from a variety of topics such as surface water, EPA-regulated
facilities or Superfund Cleanup Sites.
Resources for Creating Public Health Maps, Centers for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/epiinfo/maps.htm
Extensive list of resources for public health GIS professionals. Find data
(demographic, health outcomes, environmental and health risk exposure, geostatistics
and spatial analysis), geographic boundaries, public health and GIS overviews,
global positioning system (GPS), images, online atlases, conferences and
symposia and software. and additional sites. GIS consultants with experience
in public health and Web references complete the set of links.
Maptitude: A GIS for Public Health Practice and Research, by Richard
E. Hoskins. August 17, 2004.
http://www.caliper.com/Maptitude/publichealth/default.htm
Brief description of why a state public health epidemiologist uses Maptitude.
Maptitude is a GIS application with a strong public health emphasis.
International Journal of Health Geographics
http://www.ij-healthgeographics.com/home
This online journal publishes "papers on the application of geographic
information systems and science in public health, healthcare, health services,
and health resources." The International Journal of Health Geographics
is published by BioMed Central. Access to
the articles is open and free.
Geriatrics and aging populations
State of Wyoming, Aging Division
http://wdhfs.state.wy.us/aging/
The Wyoming Department of Health, Aging Division "exists to provide
a flexible and responsive continuum of services that enables Wyoming's senior
citizens to age-in-place with maximum dignity and independence." Information
is divided into three large categories: About Aging, For Providers, and
For Seniors. The About Aging link moves readers to staff, services, projects
and to a calendar of events. Providers will find articles, links of interest
and information resources. Seniors will also find relevant articles and
links. A FAQ and links to government agencies make accessing relevant government
information easy.
State and Area Agencies on Aging
http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/How_To_Find/Agencies/Agencies.asp
This alphabetical roster includes contact name, address, and phone/fax number
for State Agencies on Aging for the United States and its territories. From
the U.S. Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.aoa.gov/
The Administration on Aging (AoA) is a federal agency devoted exclusively
to the issues and concerns of older Americans. The site is designed to provide
a comprehensive overview of a wide variety of topics, programs and services
related to aging. Older individuals, caregivers, community service providers,
researchers, or students will find valuable information provided in a user-friendly
way. Public health practitioners will find much of interest here from healthy
aging content to nutrition and exercise. AoA has a variety of grant programs
that they promote via their Web site. The site is also available In: Spanish.
Eldercare Locator - A Way To Find Community Assistance for Seniors
http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare/Public/Home.asp
This sub-page of the U.S. Administration on Aging "explains usage of
a nationwide directory assistance service guiding seniors and caregivers
to local services such as respite care, housing, and legal assistance and
provides a toll-free number." Contains valuable and current information
for those providing care services to the elderly.
MEDLINEplus: Seniors' Health Topics
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/seniorshealth.html
Visit this National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus Web site for an extensive
list of links to resources on topics ranging from accidents to wrinkles.
All resources are examined for quality and correctness.
AARP
http://www.aarp.org/
Even if you are not old enough to be a member of AARP (formerly called American
Association of Retired Persons) the site is a treasure-trove of information
about health and wellness and about other issues of interest to the elderly.
Learn how to manage stress, about walking programs and about other ways
of exercising to keep healthy. For those learning to use computers to access
health information on the Internet, the section on computers and technology
contains how-to guides, software, gadget and book reviews to make the learning
process easier. Many policy and advocacy issues are discussed. Publications
may be downloaded for offline reading.
AgeSource Worldwide
http://research.aarp.org/general/agesource_home.html
AgeSource Worldwide is a new online database produced by AARP. Search it
free of charge for information on clearinghouses, databases, libraries,
directories, statistical resources, bibliographies and reading lists, texts,
and Web “metasites” focusing on aging or closely allied subjects.
Topics covered range from Alzheimer's disease to wills and estate planning.
Most of the information resources are located in North America and Europe.
Navigation and help pages are available in French and Spanish as well as
English. Search by subject, country or region of the world, or by type and
language of the information resource—or by some combination of these – or
browse the listing of topics to see if an equivalent topic is available.
Table of Contents
Authors
Laura Larsson, MLS, is on the clinical faculty of the Health Services department;
Yuki Durham, MLS, is a librarian; both are in the University of Washington
School of Public Health and Community Medicine.