$1.6 million in grants to help prevent common diseases and health conditions in women      

[SEPT. 30, 2005]  CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich recently announced more than $1.6 million in grants for women's health programs geared toward awareness and prevention of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, menopause and eating disorders -- some of the leading health conditions facing women.

Logan County Health Department will receive $15,000 for their Heart Smart for Teens program.

"Women so often play the important role of caretaker and end up putting their families' needs ahead of their own," Blagojevich said. "That can have a devastating impact on their health. By making women aware of the major threats to their health, and the keys to prevention, we can help them live longer, healthier lives. These grants will go to nonprofit organizations, hospitals, local health departments and schools that are working to raise awareness and educate women on the main health issues facing them today."

The Illinois Department of Public Health's Office of Women's Health administers the grants, which are awarded to programs that provide guidance on issues related to nutrition, exercise, risk assessment, treatment options and prevention strategies.

"Last year, nearly 11,000 women and girls participated in these community education programs," said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. "What's especially impressive is that nearly three-fourths of the participants reported an increase in knowledge and nearly two-thirds reported behavior changes resulting in healthier lifestyles."

Heart Smart for Women is a 12-week community-based program designed to change unhealthy behavior while promoting the benefits of exercise and nutrition. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer among women nationally and statewide. According to 2002 Illinois data, nearly 22,000 females died from cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke.

The Adams County Health Department has been offering this program to women in their community for the last five years and has seen tremendous success.

"More than 700 women have participated in the Heart Smart program since 1999, and we continually get positive feedback about success stories and how the program has improved their lives," said Becky Woodward, health educator with the Adams County Health Department. "Women gain more confidence and are empowered to have the ability to make healthier choices."

Grants for the Women's Health Initiative are funded through state general revenue funds. A total of 77 grant recipients will be able to use the money for local programs, including the following:

• Heart Smart for Women, a 12-week community-based program designed to change unhealthy behavior while promoting the benefits of exercise and nutrition.

• Heart Smart for Teens, a nine-week nutrition and exercise curriculum geared toward school-aged girls.

• Building Better Bones, which offers group education sessions, as well as bone density screening for osteoporosis.

• Understanding Menopause, which offers educational sessions that help women understand perimenopause and menopause and inform them about related health issues.

• Eating Disorder Professional Education, which helps adults who work with young women and girls to understand and recognize disordered eating patterns and to refer those at risk.

Blagojevich has made other significant contributions to promote and improve women's health, including the following:

• Breast and cervical cancer funding: Provided increased funding to screen additional women for breast and cervical cancer. Nearly 39,000 women in two years, 44 percent of whom are minorities, received free screenings through the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program. Since taking office, the governor has also added $4 million more in state funding to support breast and cervical cancer screening and education. In fiscal 2005, the total amount of state and federal funds supporting breast and cervical cancer programs is $11.45 million. Legislation supported by the governor and passed in December created a 12-member Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force to help educate the public about cervical cancer and develop a statewide comprehensive prevention and control plan.

[Sponsor of the Week]

• WISEWOMAN: Piloted the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation cardiovascular research project in DuPage County. The project is targeted toward women in the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program and helps them reduce heart disease by leading healthier lifestyles. It has now been expanded to 20 counties.

• Women's health education: In addition to the $1.6 million in grants announced Sept. 20, $100,000 in state funds was awarded in January to 26 groups for health awareness events and walking campaigns, many of which target specific minority groups, including African-American, Asian and Latina women.

• Women's Health-Line: Increased access to services through Women's Health-Line and other informational resources. In fiscal 2004, the state-funded, toll-free Women's Health-Line, 1 [phone], responded to more than 3,000 requests, referring women to services and providing nearly 345,000 free educational materials to women and community providers. These materials are also available through the department's website.  [Women's health publications]

• Responsible family planning: In April 2004, Blagojevich launched the Healthy Women program under the Department of Public Aid, which is now the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The free program offers low-income women who are leaving the Medicaid program the tools to prevent unplanned pregnancies and assists women in making a successful transition from welfare to work. As of Nov. 5, 2004, more than 80,000 women have participated in the program.

• First state to require pharmacists to dispense female contraceptives: In April, Blagojevich issued an emergency rule requiring pharmacists whose pharmacies sell contraception to dispense birth control to women with valid prescriptions. The governor's emergency rule became permanent this summer. In addition, the state launched a new website, www.contraceptives.illinois.gov, to help women know which insurers now cover contraceptives.

For more information on women's health and programs offered through the Department of Public Health, visit www.idph.state.il.us; or call the Women's Health-Line at [phone] or, for hearing-impaired use only, TTY [phone].

[News release from the governor's office]