Women's Health Month, May 2008: Power of We
The Office of Women's Health observes May as Women's Health Month to raise awareness of health issues that affect the lives of California's women and girls. Women's Health Month celebrates state, local and community efforts to enhance awareness of women's wellness and to encourage all women to take proactive steps to safeguard their health.
The theme for Women’s Health Month in 2008 is the “Power of WE – Many Voices, One Vision”. Women from many different backgrounds gain strength through shared efforts to improve the lives of women in California. The purpose of Women’s Health Month 2008 is threefold:
- To increase public awareness of significant women’s health issues
- To educate and empower women to act as their own health advocates
- To promote and improve the health and wellbeing of women in California
Women's Health Month Information and Poster
Organizations participating in women's health month
Organizations (public or private) that plan to conduct a women’s health event or awareness activity are eligible to receive FREE 2008 California Women’s Health Month materials which include posters, bookmarks and notepads.
To obtain these free women's health month materials, please fill out the Participation Form and submit it by e-mail or fax.
Email: owhmail@dhcs.ca.gov or owhmail@cdph.ca.gov
Fax: 916.440.7636
Events can spotlight a specific women’s health issue or address women’s health more generally. Activities that have been conducted by participating organizations in past years include:
- Women’s Health Fair
- Mobile mammography screening in underserved neighborhoods
- Free blood pressure and cholesterol screening for older women at community clinics
- Community lecture series or event with inspirational speaker’s focusing on women’s health issues
- Campus teach-in about overcoming barriers or issues related to sexually transmitted diseases or violence prevention
- Low-fat recipe cook-off for women’s heart health
- Lobby or window display on women’s health issues
- Community violence prevention forum
- Young women’s health conference
- Newspaper, TV or radio story on women’s health
- Award of recognition to a community program that is positively impacting women’s health
Women’s Health Month activities need not be costly or complicated. We encourage you to involve your local community partners in planning and conducting these events. These partners include community-based organizations, schools, health departments, health care providers, local women’s professional or business associations and civic clubs which value the opportunity to support women’s health.
For additional information, please contact OWH at 916.440.7626 or owhmail@dhcs.ca.gov