Alaska Women's Network - Health Issues

Prevention and Education can save lives!

(Anchorage) FREE BREAST CANCER SCREENING

Alaska Health Fair has started up their Spring schedule.

Alaska Network of Care

Network of Care is a comprehensive, Internet-based community resource for the elderly and people with disabilities, as well as their caregivers and service providers.

Alaska's Network of Care was created by the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC), in cooperation with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority. The project is part of a broad effort by the SILC to improve and better coordinate long-term care services for Alaskan seniors and persons experiencing disabilities.

Exercise your physical and spiritual well-being; check out the seasonal facility openings for our parks, trails and campgrounds at:
Alaska Department of Natural Resources

Get connected, get answers! United Way's 2-1-1 is a 24/7 easy to remember phone number with supporting website to connect individuals with vital resources in their community.
Alaska 2-1-1

Anchorage Project Access
Although access to health care and lack of health insurance is a complicated national problem, hundreds of communities across the United States have developed plans within their communities to provide an organized network for low-income people to receive health care

One model is a volunteer health care provider network, developed by the medical society in Asheville, North Carolina. That model has resulted in a decrease in ER use by the target population by 70%, reduced hospital charity expenses by 23%, and decreased work absenteeism among those enrolled.
Anchorage Project Access

Want to know more about your prescriptions?
DrugDigest.com

The Sister Study Needs American Indian and Alaska Native Women to Help Find the Causes of Breast Cancer

If you could help your daughters, granddaughters, and nieces possibly avoid developing breast cancer, would you? The Sister Study needs American Indian and Alaska Native women, ages 35 to 74—whose sisters had breast cancer—to help researchers learn how our environment and genes may affect the chances of getting the disease.

“Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among American Indian and Alaska Native women, yet scientists have very little information on cancer histories in their families,” said Dr. Dale Sandler, principal investigator of the Sister Study. “That’s why enrolling in or supporting the Sister Study is so important.” She added, "Joining is fairly simple and can be done from home, plus participants are not required to take any medicine, visit a medical center, or make any changes to their habits, diet or daily life.”

Conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, one of the National Institutes of Health, the study is empowering women to leave an important legacy for future generations and make a lasting mark on breast cancer research.

Please visit the Sister Study site or call 1-877-474-7837;
Deaf/Hard of Hearing, 1-866-TTY-4747.

Breast & Cervical Health Check

More than 14,000 Alaskan women screened In Alaska, the Alaska Breast and Cervical Health Check (BCHC) program offers free breast and cervical cancer screening to income eligible women ages 18 to 64 who do not have insurance, cannot meet their deductible or whose insurance does not pay for BCHC services. A Health Check starts with a Pap test and pelvic and clinical breast exams. Women 50 - 64 also receive a free mammogram. The YWCA of Anchorage ENCOREplus program can provide mammograms for women 40-49 from other funding sources. Screening Locations: Anchorage, Chugiak, Cold Bay, Cordova, Eagle River, Fairbanks, Homer, Juneau, Kenai, Ketchikan, King Cove, Kodiak, Palmer, Petersburg, Sand Point, Seward, Soldotna, Talkeetna, and Wasilla. To learn more about the program or find out if you are eligible, call us. If you live in Anchorage, call YWCA ENCOREplus at 644-9620.
Outside Anchorage, call 1-800-410-6266.
Or, you can visit our Web site.

Anchorage YWCA

Women’s Health/ENCOREplus, for breast and cervical cancer outreach, education, and screening, weekly breast cancer support and exercise group, and Casting for Recovery annual retreat for breast cancer survivors; Call 644-9620

* Youth Programs such as Native Mothers and Daughters, Girls’ Circle, TechGyrls Club, the Middle School Multicultural Female Leadership Conference for junior high school girls, and the Matanuska Maid Young Women of Achievement Awards program.

Amber Stivers,
Membership and Information
324 E. 5th Ave.
Anchorage, AK 99501
907.644.9600 ph
907.644.9650 fx

Traditions of the Heart

I am involved in a fabulous program at the Alaska Native Medical Center. The program is called Traditions of the Heart (TOTH).

Originally a research project, it is a five-year study to gather data and report on the findings of heart disease and related risks of Alaskan Native/American Indian women. Practically, it also assists the participants in the study with healthy lifestyle changes by utilizing tools pertinent to the Alaska Native/American Indian cultures.

The project is sponsored, in part, by the Center for Disease Control, and by South Central Foundation. Each group is comprised of Alaskan Native/American Indian women ages 40 to 64 that have committed to meet two hours per week for 12 weeks. All participants go through a lengthy initial screening consultation. This includes a physical examination, baseline blood work (i.e., lipid profile, fasting blood glucose and thyroid panel), and a case history.

Those found at risk due to family history or who have disease present are invited to become a participant in the study.

To date, 75 women in Alaska have completed the program since its inception in September of 2001. Ongoing monitoring, quarterly meetings and regular check ups by the primary physician monitor compliance and progress.

Traditions of the Heart is a health and wellness group that facilitates and encourages behavioral changes promoting healthy lifestyles in a largely understudied and unrecognized population. Because the focus on health has been modified to fit this particular population, participants find it easier to incorporate those behaviors, utilizing traditional ways.

The staff consists of Registered Dietitians, Registered Nurses, Physical Therapists, and counselors with a multitude of credentials. All are part of the Health Education Department at the Alaska Native Medical Center. Together they bring a variety of skills, talent and caring to the gatherings.

The weekly sessions present with the following components:

Nutrition: healthy food choices; comparisons; substitutions; sodium regulation and alternatives; info on fat content; food label reading, Includes traditional and subsistence foods.
Physical activity: emphasizes the importance of movement to health, including traditional activities such as housework, yard work, snow shoveling, hunting, fishing, berry picking; doing exercise videos in class; stretching, yoga, etc. Participants were given pedometers. (I have enjoyed mine daily ever since!)
Stress Management: Native storytelling as a tool to connect with self/community; guided meditation; visualizations, etc.
Smoking cessation /tobacco use information

The program is open to at -risk Alaska Native or American Indian women, ages 40 to 64. To find out if you qualify, or for more information, please contact your primary care provider at the ANMC, or call the Health Education Department, Traditions of the Heart program at 907/729-2689.

Kristi Hamilton

Article written by Kristi Hamilton

AK INFO is a free, quick, and easy way to find services for a wide range of health and social services:

Adolescents (Teens)
Breast & Cervical Cancer Screening
Denali Kid Care
Early Intervention/Infant Learning
Emergency/Crisis Intervention
Family Planning
Family Violence Prevention
Financial Assistance
Health Care
Infant Care
Medical Equipment, Supplies, Services
Mothers/Women
Newborn Screening
Pregnancy Support
Speech and Hearing
Substance Abuse Prevention
WIC Nutrition

Dial 1-800-478-2221 any time of the night or day for a quick referral. You can also get help by logging on to our Web site: www.ak.org

Early Intervention/Infant Learning Program Women often have questions about childhood development. Children roll over, sit alone, learn to talk, crawl and walk at different times and ages. If you have questions about your infant or toddler's development, talk to your doctor or your local early intervention specialist.

Call (907) 269-3400 or AK Info 1-800-478-2221 and you will be given the name and telephone number of the local EI/ILP program nearest you.

Wired for Health - Breast Cancer Awareness
is information sponsored by the YWCA in Anchorage and is a superb site for information on breast cancer.

Residence XII for Women, Seattle
Chemical Dependency Treatment Center for Women. Run by women, for women, for the past sixteen years. The website includes a survey if you feel you have a dependency problem. To our knowledge, there is no comparable facility in Alaska - if you know of one, please e-mail the Web Goddess. Who amongst us hasn't been touched by alcohol or drug abuse?

National Women's Health Information Center
U.S. Public Health Service. A one-stop gateway for women seeking answers to critical health questions.
E-mail 4woman@soza.com.

Mayo Clinic Health Oasis, Reliable Information for a Healthier Life
is easy to read, full of great advice and guidance.

Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center is a reservation-based, non-profit organization in South Dakota serving Native American women and their families. The website makes the Resource Center's publications on Native American public health available to the community at large. Contact Sandy Wade.

National Office of Women's Health
A great site with lots of information.

Healthy Anchorage Indicators
A site developed by the City of Anchorage to collect and disseminate local quality of life data.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Conquering Cancer
and other links to cancer-related websites.

Women's Health Clinic in Washington State

Hysterectomy information

Alaska Health Fair

Do you have information about health care issues for women in Alaska? Resources? Websites you've found helpful? Support Groups? Please e-mail the Web Goddess and we'll spread the word.

June
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.
Freya Stark
English Explorer

I was brought up to believe that the only thing worth doing was to add to the sum of accurate information in the world.
Margaret Mead
Anthropologist