Does It Run In the Family? Toolkit Will Soon Be Available at Federal Health Centers Nationwide
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 2, 2011 |
Contact: Vaughn Edelson 202-966-5557 x213 vedelson@geneticalliance.org |
Does It Run In the Family? Toolkit Will Soon Be Available at
Federal Health Centers Nationwide
Genetic Alliance partners with HRSA to increase awareness of family health history
Washington, DC – June 2, 2011 – Genetic Alliance, in partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), selected six HRSA-funded health centers to integrate the Does It Run In the Family? toolkit into their clinical care and outreach practices. Selected centers will receive $40,000 each to implement and evaluate their programs, with the goal of creating and sustaining awareness and discussion of family health history among health center providers, staff, and patients.
“It is crucial that all stakeholders in the provision of healthcare – clinicians and patients alike –understand the importance of family health history in promoting healthy behaviors and identifying risk factors for both common and rare disorders,” said Dr. Peter Van Dyke, Associate Administrator of HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau. “Family health history is often called the most basic genetic test because it involves lifestyle, environment, behavior and culture. The Does It Run In the Family? toolkit elaborates on all these components of family history, which will give providers in our health centers the information they need to continue to offer great patient care.”
Over the course of 15 months, Genetic Alliance will work with the six centers to integrate family health history into their programs and processes as well as evaluate the impact of the Does It Run In the Family? toolkit on provider, staff, and patient family history education and engagement. Sites will then suggest recommendations for dissemination of the toolkit into additional HRSA-funded health centers and other healthcare outlets across the country.
“We appreciate HRSA’s commitment to making sure that underserved communities and the health professionals that serve them have access to family health history resources that are easy to understand,” commented Sharon Terry, president and chief executive officer of Genetic Alliance. “Healthcare should be a partnership between patients and their providers. This project will empower all parties to use family health history information to help them stay healthy.”
|
Award Recipient |
State |
Project Summary |
|
Comprehensive Community Health Centers, Inc. |
CA |
Disseminate the toolkit at annual physicals, health education sessions, and community outreach events. Patients and community members will receive a $10 incentive to bring the family health history materials to the clinic at their next visit. |
|
Covenant Community Health Center |
MI |
Introduce the toolkit to new and returning patients at the clinic and in all outreach activities to educate patients on the importance of establishing a medical home. Special focus on the genetic basis of cancer through partnership with the Cancer Genetics Program at Beaumont Hospitals. |
|
Daily Planet |
VA |
Promote the toolkit at several clinic sites and throughout the community through other organizations and health fairs. Virginia Commonwealth University nursing and health education students will assist patients and providers in gathering family health history. |
|
Lana‘i Community Health Center |
HI |
Integrate the toolkit at all appointments with diabetes and cardiovascular disease patients, as well as WIC, family planning, prenatal, well woman and well man visits and into outreach and health education services during one-on-one appointments and community events. |
|
Madison County Community Health Centers, Inc. |
IN |
Disseminate the toolkit to all adult patients; to patients at diabetes, smoking cessation, and weight management classes; and patients and the public at monthly daylong events that emphasize particular health conditions. |
|
Siouxland Community Health Center |
IA |
Distribute the toolkit (customized in English and Spanish) to patients ages 20-64 during annual exam visits. |
###
About Genetic Alliance
Genetic Alliance improves health through the authentic engagement of communities and individuals. In this, our 25th year, we celebrate innovation on our journey toward novel partnerships, connected consumers, and smart services. For more information about Genetic Alliance, visit http://www.geneticalliance.org
About the Health Resources and Services Administration
The Health Resources and Services Administration is part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. HRSA is the primary federal agency responsible for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. For more information about HRSA and its programs, visit www.hrsa.gov
