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Frances E. Ashe-Goins, R.N., M.P.H.

Deputy Director

Frances E. Ashe-Goins is a registered nurse, health educator, policy analyst, and innovator. As the Deputy Director, she is responsible for the overall functions of the Office of Women's Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and she participates in the formulation of policies, goals, and activities related to women's health. She is responsible for health policy analysis and program leadership in this nationwide women's health program. She has a diverse background of experience in clinical health care and public health education.

Formerly, as the Deputy Director and Director of the Division of Policy and Program Development, she was responsible for numerous women's health issues, including HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, rape/sexual assault, lupus, diabetes, organ/tissue donation, minority women's health, international health, female genital cutting, mental health, homelessness, and young women's health. Mrs. Ashe-Goines also coordinated the regional women's health coordinators programs. Her performance and expertise have been acknowledged with many HHS Secretary and Assistant Secretary Awards for Superior Service.

She has created many innovative programs to address HIV/AIDS, including the formation of the National Collaborative Workgroup on Women and HIV/AIDS, the HHS Secretary's Workgroup on Women and HIV/AIDS, Incarcerated and Newly Released Women with HIV/AIDS/STD Program, Model Mentorship Program for Organizational Development, Women in Rural Communities, National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 10), and Prevention and Intervention AIDS-Related Services for Girls at Risk for Juvenile Delinquency.

With regard to violence against women (VAW), she has created and implemented the following programs: National Nurses Task Force and National Nurses' Summit on VAW, National Social Worker's Task Force and National Social Workers' Summit on VAW, HHS National Domestic Violence Workplace Education Day (annually), HHS Employee Guidelines on Domestic Violence, and the HHS National Sexual Assault Awareness Month Event. She collaborates with the Department of Justice/Office on Violence against Women in the development and implementation of the activities of the National Advisory Committee on VAW, as well as other federal agencies in their programs that address VAW. She is a featured author of a chapter on domestic violence in the book, Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care, 4th edition.

She developed the National Young Women's Health Summits to create young women health experts and advocates throughout the nation. The original Summit was held in 2000, regional summits were held in 2001 and the culminating 2002 national summit included "Parents as Partners."

She initiated the OWH Lupus Educational Awareness Project which originally comprised HHS staff awareness sessions and, based on the overwhelming need, culminated in a Capitol Hill Town Hall seminar, which was broadcast throughout the nation. This program comprises targeted educational sessions throughout the nation with community health centers, community groups, and medical and professional organizations. Currently she is the lead for the highly successful National Lupus Awareness Campaign, targeted toward young minority women, which was released in March 2009.

She developed the National Minority Women's Health Summits in 1997, 2004, and 2007. The original Summit generated the Minority Women's Health Panel of Experts, which is comprised of national leaders in minority women's health issues and who advise OWH on its minority women's health programs.

In addition she has created additional innovative programs addressing organ and tissue donation, mental health, diabetes and mentorship.

Mrs. Ashe-Goins received a Masters of Public Health in Health Education from the University of South Carolina in 1980. She has written many articles, appeared on many radio/television programs, been featured in magazine and newspaper articles and calendars, made presentations at national and international conferences and workshops, and received many awards/commendations.

Content last updated March 28, 2011.

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