Planning/Coordinating/Advisory Groups (Health Issues, Women)

The office provides administrative services and was established to protect, preserve and advance the health of women in Los Angeles County. Services include administrative entities and planning/coordinating/advisory groups. No public health services are provided at this office. There are no geographic restrictions.

The office is promoting heath equity; providing education and promoting resources, programs and policies that are responsive to women; and increasing access to culturally competent comprehensive health services.

The Women's Health Policy Council serves as advisers to the Office of Women's Health (OWH) and consist of community leaders, clinicians, service providers, health advocates and public/private-sector representatives. Key initiatives include Women's Health Data Report; Healthy Aging; Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence; Cancer Prevention and Treatment; Lesbian/Bisexual Women's Health; Building and Participating in Community Partner Networks and Fostering Collaboration; and Domestic Violence Housing and Support Services.

The Women's Health Data Report is a comprehensive women's health report for Los Angeles. It highlights important health disparities by race/ethnicity and poverty level, identifying vulnerable populations that carry an unequal burden of poorer health, which then informs the design of needed policies and programs.

Healthy Aging, women compose an increasing majority of aging individuals in Los Angeles. With advancing age, risk of chronic health conditions and disability increases. The OWH has organized healthy aging conferences, convening key leaders to address critical issues and plans of action and is a key organizer of the Los Angeles Alliance for Community Health and Aging which is focused on promoting evidence-based heath programs that improve health outcomes and quality of life such as chronic disease and diabetes self-management, walking and exercise, and fall prevention programs.

Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence (DV/IPV) is a serious preventable public health issue. Decades of violence prevention work have shown that many types of violence have strong overlapping root causes; however they are often addressed independently. Focusing on partnerships and collaboration the Department of Pubic Health Gender-Based Violence (GBV) workgroup-convened by OWH-has developed a 5 year strategic plan to address organizational change including training, screening, community collaboration, policy efforts and participation in key countywide committees.

Cancer Prevention and Treatment in L A County, there is significant disparity in cancer incidence and mortality in women. OWH works in a variety of areas to address cancer prevention, including organizing the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Community Advisory Board and OWH has led an L A County team to raise funds in the fight against breast cancer.

Lesbian/Bisexual Women's Health, lesbian/bisexual women are less likely to use preventative health services than heterosexual women and to have seen a medical provider in the previous 12 months. To improve access and health outcomes the Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Health Collaborative (of which OWH is a founding member) is working to train clinicians and health care administrators on delivering culturally responsive care for their lesbian/bisexual patients.

Building and Participating in Community Partner Networks and Fostering Collaboration the OWH through its network at the local, state and federal levels acts as a facilitator, bringing together key stakeholders, including community-based organizations, academic institutions, researchers, advocates and government agencies to improve women's health in L A County. Key collaborations are the Reproductive Health and the Environment; Advancing Women's Health Equity and Financial Literacy; and L A County Women's Health Equity Coalition.

Domestic Violence Housing and Support Services, OWH has been administering contracts with a network of agencies that provide shelter-based and/or supportive services (legal, case management and counseling) to survivors of domestic violence. The OWH's Domestic Violence Housing and Support Services Unit (DVHSS) helps fund critical crisis intervention and support services essential to facilitating safety, addressing trauma and working towards long-term stability for survivors.