Discussion

List of Professional Public Health Organizations

The public health infrastructure includes a complex network of governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that work to assure conditions in which populations can be healthy. Here are links to the websites of a few key organizations that work to improve public health in the United States and around the world. These organizations are all reliable sources of information for your academic and professional research needs. U.S. Government

· Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) http://www.hhs.gov The Department of Health & Human Services is the U.S. government’s agency for protecting the health of all Americans, especially those who are unable to help themselves. HHS administers Medicare and Medicaid, which provide health care insurance to one in four Americans.

· Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) http://www.hrsa.gov/index.html The Health Resources and Services Administration is the primary federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable.

· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) http://CDC.gov The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a leader in promoting public health for all people, protecting the United States and the world from health threats, and working with global partners to realize the goal of “Healthy People in a Healthy World—through Prevention.”

· National Institutes of Health (NIH) http://nih.gov The National Institutes of Health is composed of 27 Institutes and Centers. NIH scientists investigate ways to prevent disease and understand the causes, develop treatments, and even find cures for common and rare diseases.

· Food and Drug Administration (FDA) http://www.fda.gov/ Food and Drug Administration protects the public by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of medications, medical devices, the food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and products that give off radiation. They help the public get accurate, science-based information on how to use medicines and foods to improve their health.

· Indian Health Service (IHS) http://www.ihs.gov The Indian Health Service's mission is to raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level. The HIS helps uphold the federal government's obligation to promote healthy American Indian and Alaska Native people, communities, and cultures and to honor and protect the inherent sovereign rights of Tribes.

· Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) http://www.samhsa.gov The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.

· Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is a public health agency that serves to protect the public from harmful exposures and diseases related to toxic substances.

· United States Agency for International Development (USAID) http://www.usaid.gov The United States Agency for International Development is an independent federal government agency that supports long-term and equitable economic growth around the world and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting global health and humanitarian assistance.

Global Nongovernmental Organizations

· Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) http://new.paho.org The Pan American Health Organization is an international public health agency working to improve health and living standards of the countries of the Americas. PAHO serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization and is part of the United Nations system.

· World Health Organization (WHO) http://www.who.int/en/ The World Health Organization is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. WHO provides leadership on global health matters and research, and it monitors and assesses global health trends.

· International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC/RC) www.IFRC.org The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is the world's largest humanitarian organization, providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class, or political opinions. The Red Crescent is used in place of the Red Cross in many Islamic countries.

· CARE http://www.care.org/ CARE is a humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. Women are at the heart of CARE's community-based efforts. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives.

· United Nations Infant and Child Emergency Fund (UNICEF) http://www.unicef.org/ The United Nations Infant and Child Emergency Fund is a global organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights around the world. UNICEF works to achieve the U.N.’s Millennium Development Goals, help meet their basic needs, and expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

· United Nations Foundation http://www.unfoundation.org/ The United Nations Foundation was started in 1998 with a $1 billion gift from philanthropist Ted Turner. The UN Foundation supports innovative health programs for children and other programs to eliminate malaria deaths, eradicate polio, and reduce measles mortality.

· United Nations Programme on AIDS/HIV (UNAIDS) http://www.unaids.org/en/ The United Nations Programme on AIDS/HIV was started through a series of goals, resolutions, and declarations adopted by member nations of the United Nations to stop and reverse the spread of HIV.

· Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières provides aid to people whose survival is threatened by armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters in nearly 60 countries.

Other Nongovernmental Organizations

· American Public Health Association (APHA) www.APHA.org The American Public Health Association has been working to improve public health since 1872. APHA aims to protect all Americansand their communities from preventable, serious health threats. The organization works to assure community-based health promotion, disease-prevention activities, and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States.

· American Red Cross www.redcross.org Today, in addition to domestic disaster relief, the American Red Cross offers compassionate services in five other areas: community services that help the needy; support and comfort for military members and their families; the collection, processing and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood products; and educational programs.

Disease-Specific Nongovernmental Organizations

· American Heart Association http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/ The American Heart Association is a nonprofit organization working to help build healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

· World Heart Federation www.world-heart-federation.org/ The World Heart Federation is a nongovernmental organization committed to the global fight against heart disease and stroke. They focus their efforts on low-and middle-income countries.

· American Cancer Society www.cancer.org The American Cancer Society is a nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem.

· American Foundation for AIDS Research www.amfar.org/ The American Foundation for AIDS Research is dedicated to ending the global AIDS epidemic through innovative research.

Links to Key Global Health Organizations

· UNICEF http://www.unicef.org

· AMFAR http://amfar.org/

· WHO http://www.who.int/en/

· Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) http://new.paho.org

· International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies http://www.ifrc.org/

· HHS Global Health http://www.globalhealth.gov/

· CARE http://www.care.org

· Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

· Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx

· Ford Foundation http://www.fordfoundation.org/

· Rockefeller Foundation http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/

· Save the Children http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

· World Bank http://www.worldbank.org

Additional Websites

· Joint Commission http://www.jointcommission.org/ The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies more than 18,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards.

· Institute for Healthcare Improvement http://www.ihi.org/ihi The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is an independent, not-for-profit organization. IHI helps lead the improvement of health care throughout the world.

· Institute of Medicine http://www.IOM.edu The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is an independent, nonprofit organization that works to provide unbiased and authoritative advice to decision makers and the public.

· Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality http://www.AHRQ.gov The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) mission is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. AHRQ supports research that helps people make more informed decisions and improves the quality of health care services. AHRQ is one of the agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services.

· Nursing Home Quality Campaign http://www.nhqualitycampaign.org Campaign data by state: http://www.nhqualitycampaign.org/star_index.aspx?controls=states_map The mission of the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes Campaign is to help nursing homes achieve excellence in the quality of care and quality of life for the more than 1.5 million residents of America’s nursing homes.