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The Office on Women's Health (OWH) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the government's champion and focal point for women's health issues. OWH works to redress inequities in research, health care services, and education that have historically placed the health of women at risk. The Office on Women's Health specifically works to promote women's health through:
1. Coordinating DHHS Women's Health Activities: OWH serves as the coordinating office for women's health initiatives across the agencies of DHHS, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other agencies and offices.
2. Public/Private Partnerships: OWH brings together federal departments, the scientific community, professional organizations, and consumer groups to support and advance women's health issues.
3. Health Promotion and Outreach: OWH develops, coordinates, and monitors communication efforts to bring women in every region of America reliable information on a myriad of health topics. It also develops mechanisms to give consumers and the private sector a voice in women's health policy.
4. Health Care Innovation: OWH promotes the development and implementation of model initiatives in communities all over the United States to address the health needs of women across different ages, cultures, and races/ethnicities, including issues such as how women receive care and how health care practitioners are educated on women's health.
5. Health Disparities: OWH promotes comprehensive and culturally appropriate prevention, diagnostic, and treatment services for women across the lifespan, as well as the integration of culturally appropriate practices in medical education and research.
6. Regional Support: OWH supports Regional Women's Health Coordinators (RWHCs) and provides staff support in each of the 10 regions of DHHS. The RWHCs coordinate activities to promote a greater focus on women's health issues at the regional, state, and local levels, including programs in preventive service delivery, research, and the education of the public and health professionals. RWHCs identify regional needs in high-priority health areas, establish networking relationships, and implement initiatives that address regional women's health concerns.
Last Updated October, 2003