Genetic Alliance is partnering with a diverse group of communities to create tailored family health history tools. We believe that accessible tools produced by the community, for the community, will promote conversations about health within the family and translate knowledge of family health history into healthy choices. Read our complete list of goals and objectives.

Each community involved in the project will adapt Does It Run In the Family?, a family health history toolkit, disseminate it to community members, and evaluate whether the tool encourages healthy decision-making and collection of family health history.

Does It Run In the Family?

The Does It Run In the Family? template was created using feedback from all project partners and the National Advisory Committee. The highlighted and circled sections of the template are customizable. These booklets are also available in Spanish.

Many of the communities involved have already customized the toolkit. Community booklets will be added as they become available.

Supplemental Materials

Communication is an important part of family health history. We’ve created optional supplemental materials that may help individuals talk with their family and healthcare provider. Like the booklets above, these materials are still in draft versions.

Healthcare Provider Card

Purpose: This card is for you to fill out and bring to your healthcare provider. One side of the card concentrates on concerns you have about your family health history. On the other side, there is information for your provider on how to best use your family history to determine your risk of getting a disease. We are currently conducting interviews with primary care providers to determine what types of information they would find useful in this tool. Feedback was also collected from community health liaisons. Availability: This card is available in English and Spanish versions. A finalized version of the card will be available by the end of 2007.   English version Spanish version

Purpose: This questionnaire can be used to collect valuable information from relatives without doing an interview. You may wish to send out a questionnaire or survey asking for health information from relatives. Paired with a family newsletter, this may be a quick and easy way to collect information. Remember that not everyone will feel comfortable sharing his or her information this way, and be sure to explain exactly what you are using the information for. Availability: The questionnaire is available here in English and will be available in Spanish soon. Questionnaire (English)

Things to watch for!

Customizable Online Toolkit

Give us feedback!

Supported through a cooperative agreement from the Genetic Services Branch of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau/HRSA/DHHS.