The National Community Centers of Excellence in Women's Health

The National Community Centers of Excellence in Women's Health (CCOE) program is designed to integrate, coordinate, and strengthen linkages between programs and activities that are already underway in the community to enhance services available to women and to reduce fragmentation in women's health services.

The program provides recognition and resources to community-based programs to develop and integrate six components: health services delivery, particularly preventive services; training for health care professionals including allied health professionals and others; community-based research; public education and outreach; leadership development for women; and technical assistance to other communities to replicate the CCOE model.

WHY IS INTEGRATION AND COORDINATION SO IMPORTANT?
Integrated and coordinated health care in communities improves women's access to comprehensive care and helps to provide a system of care that is more meaningful and consistent with the complexity of women's lives.

The program is designed to measurably improve the health and well being of women using community-based organizations as the nucleus.

Last Updated: September, 2004

For more information on the Office on Women's Health CCOE Program contact Barbara F. James, M.P.H.
Phone: 301-443-4422
Fax: (301) 443-1384 Email: BJames1@osophs.dhhs.gov