Women's Health / News from Local Initiatives

Recently several states [AZ, KY, IA, MD, MI, NE, PA, TX] participated on a NACW Healthy BONES conference call, where each shared their "to date" learnings on their initiatives. It was a very encouraging sharing experience for all. The key learnigs were:

1. Communicating with/learning from each other is the best way to insure individual and national success of your Healthy BONES initiative. If you have a question or you would like some advise contact an NACW member commission.

2. It has proven somewhat difficult, but by no means impossible, to line up heel screening machines.

3. It is important to remember that while providing screenings is desired for your events, osteoporosis educational "activities" may not necessarily involve them. Bronze Level - At least 1 activity or event. (website link, newsletter article, etc.) Gold Level - 2 to 3 Osteoporosis activities or events. Platinum Level - 4 or more activities or events including an osteoporosis screening event.

4. City, county and state agencies [Department of Health, Department of Aging, Office of Rural Health, Governor's proclamations, Department of Community Health] and the Arthritis Association/Center] have proven to be interested partners for osteoporosis education outreach.

5. The Healthy BONES Resource Kit has proven to be very "user friendly". With proper time allotment for the review of the contents and proper time allotment for the activity/event planning, the Healthy BONES Resource Kit provides everything needed for success.