Empowering women to live healthier lives!
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National campaigns
- Heart Truth Consumer Education Campaign
- Heart Truth Professional Education Campaign
- Make the Call. Don't Miss A Beat.
- National Women's Health Week and National Women's Checkup Day
- Women's Heart Day Campaign
Heart Truth Consumer Education Campaign
The Heart Truth campaign is primarily targeted to women ages 40 to 60, the time when a woman's risk of heart disease begins to increase. The campaign warns women that heart disease is the number one killer of women. It provides tools to help them take action against its risk factors.
The Red Dress Campaign
The campaign's launch put the issue of women and heart disease in the national spotlight with the introduction of the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness. It underscored the message that "heart disease doesn't care what you wear."
Heart Truth Champions
The Heart Truth Champions program is a train-the-trainer initiative aimed at equipping a cadre of health advocates and educators in local communities with important health information and educational materials about women and heart disease.
Make the Call. Don't Miss A Beat.
The Make the Call. Don't Miss A Beat. campaign aims to increase awareness and recognition of the seven most common heart attack symptoms among women and encourage the use of the 9-1-1 emergency response system when these symptoms occur. The campaign:
- Educates women on the symptoms of a heart attack:
- Chest pain, discomfort, pressure, or squeezing
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Light-headedness or sudden dizziness
- Unusual upper body pain, or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach
- Unusual fatigue
- Breaking out in a cold sweat
- Engages women to change their behaviors and improve their health.
- Empowers women to call 9-1-1 to save their own life, and empowers bystanders to act to save the lives of their sisters, mothers, and best friends.
OWH awarded 10 regional contracts to organizations to carry out this mission. To fulfill the requirements of the campaign award, the awardees will:
- Identify at least ten people to become spokespersons for the campaign. Identified individuals could include health care professionals, community health workers, health advocates, patients, or family members of patients.
- Coordinate the activities of their selected spokespersons.
- Through their selected spokespersons, make media placements, media interviews, and presentations on the campaign.
For more information, contact Suzanne Haynes.
Campaign partners:
WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease is a proud partner in the Make the Call. Don't Miss a Beat. national public service announcement campaign! WomenHeart is the nation's only patient-centered organization devoted to supporting women living with heart disease and promoting prevention, early and accurate diagnosis, and proper treatment of heart disease in all women.
WomenHeart Champions (heart disease survivors, and many of them heart attack survivors) in 48 cities and 27 states across the nation are participating in this landmark campaign by sharing their heart stories, educating women, urging them to call 9-1-1 at the signs and symptoms of heart attack, and working with public service directors in their local media to place the PSAs.
WomanHeart representatives are located in the following cities:
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To arrange an interview with a WomenHeart Champion and heart attack survivor in any of these markets or anywhere else in the country about this initiative, please contact Lisa Clough at WomenHeart at lclough@womenheart.org.
Campaign awardees:
Region 1
Eastern Maine Medical Center
Bangor, ME
Project Director: Deborah Richards
Phone: 207-973-8160
Email: drichards@emh.org
Point of Contact: Denise Sullivan
Phone: 207-973-7312 or 207-827-7402
Email: WHChamp2008@roadrunner.com
The Eastern Maine Medical Center and WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease (Maine representative) are targeting the entire State of Maine with the Mainer's Make the Call campaign with a specific concentration on the northern two-thirds of the state. This grassroots initiative promotes awareness of the seven common signs of a heart attack in women and encourages them to call 9-1-1. This simple action can increase women's survival from a heart attack. Targeted demographics will include women and men of all racial and ethnic origins in both rural and urban settings. The goal is to reach more than 25% of all adults aged 18 and older. Specific objectives of the program include disseminating Make the Call materials to a minimum of 30 physician practices, outreach to at least five media markets, and conducting 15 community educational offerings and events. Additionally, there will be a focus on fostering collaborations with consumer, community, and professional organizations.
Region II
Abyssinian Baptist Church/Columbia University
New York, NY
Project Director: Patricia R. Butts
Point of Contact: Dr. Elizabeth Cohen
Phone: 212-305-2805
Email: pbutts@abyssinian.org
Email: ec2341@columbia.edu
Abyssinian Baptist Church and Columbia University are targeting African American and Hispanic women aged 50 and older residing in Harlem and surrounding areas with the Heart Attack Symptoms and Calling 9-1-1 Campaign for Women. This grassroots campaign builds on a previous award from OWH to improve cardiovascular outcomes of underserved women. The goal is to educate women and their family and friends on the signs and symptoms of heart attack and empower them to call 9-1-1. Abyssinian Baptist Church has 25 dedicated 9-1-1 trainers delivering the program across the New York State Region. These educators are healthcare professionals, community health workers, health advocates, patients, and family members of patients who act as spokespersons and perform outreach activities. Spokespersons will make at least 50 media placements including TV, radio, and print; interviews consisting of panel presentations; and sharing stories from women who have experienced a heart attack. The goal of the social media and education initiative is to reach two million vulnerable women.
Region III
Drexel University College of Medicine
Women’s Health Education Program
Philadelphia, PA
Point of Contact: Ana Núñez, MD
Phone: 215-991-8450
Email: anunez@drexelmed.edu
The Philadelphia Ujima Heart Attack Symptoms Campaign is targeting underserved African American Philadelphian women aged 50 and older with an overarching goal of improving heart health outcomes. The campaign educates women on the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, empowers them to promote behavior change, and encourages them to call 9-1-1 when they experience symptoms of a heart attack. This evidence-based, culturally-competent campaign includes social media initiatives, online activities, workshops, and disseminating print materials. The campaign is led by 20 spokespersons who will conduct over 50 workshops, presentations, media spots, and online activities. In addition to disseminating OWH print materials, a minimum of five articles related to heart health will be published in Philadelphia newspapers. The program includes a text message initiative to deliver approximately 200 'heart health' messages to members with a projected outreach to 100,000 individuals through various methods.
Region IV
Coastal Health District 9-1-1, Health Promotion
Savannah, GA
Executive Director: Dr. W. Douglas Skelton
Point of Contact: Christina Pasa Gibson
Phone: 912-644-5204
Email: cpgibson@dhr.state.ga.us
The Coastal Health District Let's Dance, Savannah! Don't Miss a Beat project is educating residents on the seven common signs of a heart attack and the importance of calling 9-1-1 as soon as symptoms are experienced. Additionally, the campaign raises awareness of the national Make the Call. Don't Miss a Beat. campaign and connects community members with organizations that focus on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Targeting African American women aged 40-65, in addition to women with low socio-economic status, the campaign will educate residents and visitors through a variety of media platforms. The project will elicit participation of a minimum of five dance groups for the two Don't Miss a Beat events held at area malls in February, and develop a community resource listing CVD prevention service organizations for distribution during Don't Miss a Beat events. The campaign focuses on fostering community partnerships to address the health disparities experienced by women and minorities. The outcome objective is to promote health through lifestyle and behavior change that includes increased physical activity and improved nutrition.
Region V
Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition
Chicago, IL
Point of Contact: Esther Sciammarella
Phone: 312-842-2340
Email: chhc@chicagohispanichealthcoalition.org
The Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition (CHHC) Heart Attack Symptoms and Calling 9-1-1 Campaign for Women: Chicago Hispanic Women project is targeting Hispanic women aged 50 and older in the Chicago area, their family members and friends, and healthcare professionals who serve them. The campaign educates women on the symptoms of a heart attack and empowers them to call 9-1-1 when experiencing them. Additionally, the project engages bystanders and community members to save the lives of women in the community by calling 9-1-1. Outreach efforts will reach a projected 1,500 individuals in person and an additional 110,000 through media campaigns. These outreach activities include panel presentations in predominantly Hispanic communities advertised through local healthcare providers. Additionally, a local free monthly health magazine, Un Buen Doctor, will provide health information distributed in physician waiting rooms. Media outreach targeting the Spanish-speaking community includes media outlets such as radio, TV, newspaper, billboards, and bus stop and train platforms procured through the Chicago Transit Authority's media broker. Partnerships for the initiative include Mercy Hospital and Health, which will provide spokespersons and survivor stories, and members of CHHC.
Region VI
Cardiology Associates Foundation
Jonesboro, AR
Point of Contact: Emily Lard
Phone: 870-931-4044
Email: eklfun@aol.com
The Cardiology Associates Foundation (CAF) Make the Call. Don’t Miss a Beat! project is improving heart health in women through outreach to raise awareness of heart attack risk factors and the need to call 9-1-1 when symptoms appear. This collaborative project complements CAFs preexisting Women and Heart Disease program initially implemented in 2008. Targeted demographics include Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic women aged 50 and older who predominantly reside in rural communities in Arkansas. Outreach and education endeavors incorporate Make the Call. Don’t Miss a Beat! messaging into currently established Women and Heart Disease program activities. Events for campaign promotion include the Young at Heart Expo - Living Happy & Healthy after 50, Heart Truth Educational Display and Red Dress Style Event, Girl Talk - the CAFs Women’s Health Conference, and HMG Fitness Expo. A focus on collaboration with medical centers and groups, Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas State University College of Nursing, and various media outlets and corporate sponsors ensure program continuity and efficacy.
Region VII
Iowa Department of Public Health
Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program
Des Moines, IA
Point of Contact: Terry Y. Meek
Phone: 515-281-6016
Email: terry.meek@idph.iowa.gov
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program (HDSPP) Iowa Women in the Know: Make the Call, Don't Miss a Beat project is targeting women aged 50 or older who reside in Iowa and the greater Des Moines area with a focus on ethnically diverse populations including African American, Asian, and Hispanic/Latino populations that cover all socio-economic levels. Family members, friends, and healthcare providers are also targeted to promote information exchange. The goal of the project is to decrease mortality from heart attack in women by increasing use of the 9-1-1 system. Specific objectives of the project include educating women on the symptoms of a heart attack, engaging women to promote healthy behavior changes, and empowering women and others to call 9-1-1 when they recognize the symptoms of a heart attack. Through collaboration with partners, HDSPP will recruit a minimum of 10 spokespersons for the campaign that each will make at least eight media contacts or presentations. Additionally, the project will use a minimum of 50 media placements and 50 media interviews and community presentations. Finally, HDSPP will place billboards, bus signs, earned media news release and social media in a minimum of 10 media outlets.
Region VIII
University of Utah
Center of Excellence in Women’s Health
Salt Lake City, UT
Point of Contact: Leanne Johnston
Phone: 801-585-3837
Email: Leanne.johnston@hsc.utah.edu
The Utah Women's Health Coalition (UWHC) Heartwise-911 campaign is targeting women and men in Utah with a focus on the growing Hispanic population. This initiative increases awareness of heart disease as the number one killer for women and promotes women calling 9-1-1 when they experience symptoms of a heart attack. The Heartwise-911 campaign includes educational and media messaging components using 10 identified spokespersons. A report alerting providers to women's risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and highlighting the importance of calling 9-1-1 will be disseminated in at least 4 provider and 2 public bulletins, including the Utah Medical Association Bulletin. Education sessions facilitated by healthcare providers and lay persons raise awareness about cardiovascular health including women's CVD risk factors and symptoms. Additionally, 10 media sources including radio, TV, web, and newspapers will be utilized to increase public awareness. Through a partnership with Community Faces of Utah, an organization comprised of five underserved, racial, and ethnic minorities, women are being recruited to provide education and consultation regarding culturally competent media messaging.
Region IX
ACCEPT
Reno, NV
Point of Contact: Sherria Taylor
Phone: 775-786-5893
Email: SherriaT@acceptonline.org
The Etiobi (Nigerian for 'One Heart') project educates women on symptoms of a heart attack, engages women to promote healthy behavior change, and empowers women to call 9-1-1. Etiobi is targeting African American women aged 50 and over in the northern Nevada area and their families and friends with a secondary focus on Hispanic women. Faith-based networks, health ministries, social media, and community venues are some of the avenues the project uses to connect to the women. Etiobi also conducts outreach to healthcare professionals to build collaborative networks in an effort to conduct health fairs and build a network of spokespersons for the campaign. The project uses a media campaign in at least 10 media outlets utilizing a variety of platforms. Ten small education sessions and one community forum will also be held using a panel of professionals targeting at least 75 women in the target demographic. Scope of the project seeks to reach 60 individual contacts and approximately 5,000 African American and minority women through media efforts.
Region X
Franciscan Foundation on behalf of Franciscan Health System & Hope Heart Institute
Tacoma, WA
Project Director: Terry Tatko
Phone: 253-944-4189
Email: TerryTatko@fhshealth.org
The Franciscan Foundation on behalf of Franciscan Health System (FHS) and Hope Heart Institute (HHI) Heart Attack Symptoms and Calling 9-1-1 Campaign for Women builds on a previous award from OWH to increase women's survival rates from heart attack. The campaign achieves this objective by raising awareness of risk factors, knowledge of signs and symptoms, and stressing the importance of calling 9-1-1 if women experience symptoms. A multi-faceted campaign approach is utilized that includes community presentations and events; print, online, and social media; and collaboration with community partners. The project is targeted to minority women aged 50 and older and their families, especially Hispanic, Pacific Islander, Asian, American Indian, and African American women. Additionally, healthcare professionals such as Emergency Medical Technicians, firefighters, and 9-1-1 operators; pre-med students, and FHS healthcare employees are targeted in the outreach efforts. Local service clubs and casino and airline employees are included for education due to their extensive involvement with the community. Specific objectives include utilizing 20 spokespersons for training with a target goal of 50 spokespersons by campaign end, providing a minimum of 100 presentations or events in the community, engaging 10 or more media contacts, and collaborating with at least 20 community organizations as campaign partners.
Heart Truth Professional Education Campaign
Developed educational materials for use by educators, practicing health professionals, and students. These materials include self study modules offering free CME/CEU credits and other resources which are available on http://www.womenshealth.gov/heart-truth/.
National Women's Health Week and National Women's Checkup Day
National Women's Health Week is a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health (OWH). National Women's Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority. With the theme "It's Your Time," the nationwide initiative encourages women to take simple steps for a longer, healthier, and happier life. During National Women's Health Week, communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups work together to educate women about steps they can take to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of certain diseases. Important steps include:
- Getting at least 2½ hours of moderate physical activity, 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both each week
- Eating a nutritious diet.
- Visiting a health care professional for regular checkups and screening tests.
- Avoiding risky behaviors, like smoking and not wearing a seatbelt.
- Paying attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress.
For more information, visit the National Women's Health Week website.
Women's Heart Day Campaign
OWH is in its fourth year of partnering with the Sister to Sister Everyone Has a Heart Foundation to sponsor their annual Women's Heart Day Campaign. The campaign includes an Executive Women's Breakfast, a screening event on Capitol Hill, and an extensive media campaign to increase awareness of heart disease among women. The culminating event of the campaign is the Women's Heart Day health fair, which is held on the third Friday in February. This high-energy, interactive health fair includes over 40 exhibitors, free screenings, healthy cooking and fitness demonstrations, children's activities, giveaways such as airline tickets and cruises, and four panel discussions on stress, heart disease, fitness and nutrition.
Content last updated February 3, 2012.
A federal government website managed by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.200 Independence Avenue, S.W. • Washington, DC 20201
202-690-7650 • Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST (closed on federal holidays).
womenshealth.gov
A federal government website managed by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
200 Independence Avenue, S.W. • Washington, DC 20201