Coronavirus Pandemic: Reliable Government Information Resources

March 19, 2020

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China and has since spread all over the world.

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.

There is such an inundation of information all over the internet when it comes to COVID-19, but how do you know what information you can trust and which resources are reliable? That’s where Federal agencies can help.

Below is a collection of reliable resources you can trust. Information ranging from COVID-19 symptoms to look for to proper handwashing techniques is available.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a comprehensive website with information such as:

  • How to protect yourself
  • What to do if you think you are sick
  • Symptoms
  • Disinfecting your home
  • Cases in the U.S. by state
  • Travel resources
  • And much more

They also offer this Factsheet: COVID-19 and You, and well as ‘Cases in the United States,’ which includes statistics on cases, deaths, information by state, and more. The site is updated regularly at noon, Monday – Friday.

Since one of the main ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is thorough hand-washing, the CDC also presents the handwashing tutorial, Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives.

Thankfully, there is no shortage of information available from the U.S. Government.

Rely on govinfo.gov for the latest legislation and Presidential documents concerning COVID-19.

Here are some additional reliable resources.

If you work in one of the 1,119 Federal depository libraries across the Nation, patrons are in search of information on the Coronavirus. Here are some resources that can help that are available through the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP).

GPO is happy to help share these dependable resources as part of our mission of Keeping America Informed. Stay informed, and stay safe.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

For the these resources, click on the links above in this blog post.

Sign up to receive promotional bulletin emails from the US Government Online Bookstore.

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy a vast majority of eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Visit our Retail Store: To buy or order a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up(s).

Order by Phone or Email: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.  Email orders to ContactCenter@gpo.gov

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the authors: Jaime Hays is an Outreach Librarian and Kelly Seifert is the Strategic Communications Coordinator for GPO’s Library Services & Content Management division.

 

4 Comments | Centers for Disease Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Consumers, Department of Health & Human Services, health, Health care | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

NEW Implementation Science at a Glance eBook

August 2, 2019

What exactly is implementation science? According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Control & Population Sciences, “implementation science is the study of methods to promote the adoption and integration of evidence-based practices, interventions, and policies into routine health care and public health settings to improve the impact on population health.”

Implementation Science at a Glance (ePub) offers a-practical guidance on the science for cancer control practitioners, policy makers, and cancer control and implementation researchers.

While many effective interventions can reduce cancer risk, incidence, and death, as well as enhance quality of life, they are of limited benefit if they cannot be delivered to those in need. Implementation science, as presented in the guide aims to improve public health by bridging the knowledge gap between research and practice to help communities in need.

The guide is organized into a four-stage framework: assess, prepare, implement, and evaluate. Each stage poses important questions for practical considerations. It also includes four case studies to illustrate how practitioners are successfully applying implementation science in their cancer control programs.

Through summaries of key theories, methods, and models, the guide shows how greater use of implementation science can support the effective adoption of evidence-based interventions in real-world settings.

Explore the many helpful health related FREE downloadable publications from the NCI here.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THIS RESOURCE?

Sign up to receive promotional bulletin emails from the US Government Online Bookstore.

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy a vast majority of eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Visit our Retail Store: To buy or order a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up(s).

Order by Phone or Email: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.  Email orders to ContactCenter@gpo.gov

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Trudy Hawkins is the the Sr. Marketing & Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Division supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore.

Leave a Comment » | Department of Health & Human Services, ebooks, health, Health care, National Cancer Institute, NIH | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Support for People with Cancer

July 2, 2019

After receiving a cancer diagnosis, one of the most important things a person can do is educate themselves on what they can expect to go through and prepare both mentally and physically for the road ahead. So, where does a newly diagnosed cancer patient turn for guidance?

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recently released a series of booklets to help those facing cancer.

For a comprehensive guide to the questions you need to know, providing the most professional guidelines and answers, the NCI has published the following go-to support publications.

Taking Time to Support People with Cancer. Taking Time is a booklet for people newly diagnosed with cancer. It provides important information such as dealing with the various feelings you may go through after diagnosis, support from family and close friends, talking to your health care team, and dealing with a new self-image.

The NCI also provides help for managing the pain associated with cancer. Cancer Pain Control covers the types and causes of cancer pain. It discusses the importance of talking about your pain as well as developing a pain control plan and medicines to help treat cancer pain. It also discusses additional ways to control pain such as meditation and relaxation to help with stress and depression, as well as how pain can affect your thoughts and feeling and paying for pain medicines.

Eating can also be a challenge while going through cancer. In Eating Hints, people with cancer learn what to eat before, during, and after cancer treatment. This authoritative booklet provides tips about common types of eating problems and how to manage them, as well as tips about food and drinks to help manage your diet and how to prepare your food to avoid infections. It also provides suggestions for returning to healthy eating once your cancer treatment is over. For Spanish speaking individuals, the NCI also offers Consejos de alimentación, the Spanish version of Eating Hints.

Whether you are a cancer patient or know someone who is, download these FREE supportive booklets now. Cancer is no longer in charge of your life.

Start your journey now by embracing these easy to read, life-supporting booklets from the National Cancer Institute.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Sign up to receive promotional bulletin emails from the US Government Online Bookstore.

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy a vast majority of eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Visit our Retail Store: To buy or order a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up(s).

Order by Phone or Email: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.  Email orders to ContactCenter@gpo.gov

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Trudy Hawkins is the the Sr. Marketing & Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Division supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore.

Leave a Comment » | Centers for Disease Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health & Human Services, ebooks, health, Health care, National Cancer Institute | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Mental Health Awareness Month

May 8, 2019

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States, and more than 50% of people will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime. Mental Health Month was founded by Mental Health America (MHA) back in 1949. Since then, MHA has been increasing awareness for mental health as a topic everyone should care about. This Mental Health Awareness Month, GPO is bringing you resources to help take steps toward understanding more about mental health.

Relapse Prevention and Recovery Promotion in Behavioral Health Services is geared toward mental health service providers but is also useful to people who are personally dealing with mental illness or who know a friend or family member struggling with mental health. This publication from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers an overview of techniques, approaches, and best-practice guidance for preventing relapse and promoting recovery from addiction and mental illness. It provides cognitive exercises such as proactive imagination (remembering a scene of a place that feels calm, relaxed, or serene) and thought diffusion (imagining placing distressing thoughts in a balloon, or on a cloud, and watching them float away). It also discusses physical ways of coping. These include deep breathing, walking in nature, practicing gentle movement, muscle relaxation, and even singing. Emotional methods of coping mentioned in the book include writing, making a gratitude list, and listening to or playing music. Finally, SAMHSA cites relational ways of coping. These include connecting with a person, or even a pet. (Did you know petting an animal lowers blood pressure and can alleviate stress?!) According to the book, “Behavioral health services are beginning to emphasize long-term recovery from substance use and mental disorders instead of focusing on multiple episodes of acute care.” Therefore, the publication focuses on promoting ongoing recovery. The book emphasizes that many people still don’t have access to the services they need. SAMHSA suggests tips on creating easy access to care for patients. It also promotes using a strengths-based assessment, rather than focusing on what is “wrong” with a person.

Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools is a resource for high school administrators, students, parents, and individuals with suicide and other life-threatening health issues. The book was funded by SAMHSA to help high schools and their partners prevent suicide and promote behavioral health among their students. The book offers data on youth suicide. One of the helpful facts to know is that suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers. The toll among some groups, such as Native Americans, is even higher. Also included are an information sheet on bullying and a checklist of suicide prevention activities. Suggested prevention activities include implementing a written protocol for helping students who may be at risk of suicide as well as training staff on suicide prevention, among many others.

As is indicated by the CDC, mental health issues are incredibly common. This month, read up on mental health and help get the conversation going.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Sign up to receive promotional bulletin emails from the US Government Online Bookstore.

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy a vast majority of eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Visit our Retail Store: To buy or order a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up(s).

Order by Phone or Email: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.  Email orders to ContactCenter@gpo.gov

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Cat Goergen is the PR Specialist in GPO’s Public Relations office.

2 Comments | Department of Health & Human Services, health, Health care | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

New eBooks from the National Cancer Institute

November 23, 2018

Caregiver Ribbon

Every day somewhere across America cancer strikes one of us, our families, friends, or neighbors. It’s a devastating disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissues. Cancer comes in many forms such as skin, lung, pancreatic, prostate, breast, brain, even our bones and blood (leukemia).

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be traumatic. So it’s vitally important to become informed and to take steps to get in control of whatever circumstance it brings. There’s no telling who might be the target of cancer; a child, a parent, a sibling, maybe you. Not everyone is as vigilant as possible checking themselves, watching for clues how we feel, a sudden loss of energy, or weight. Once diagnosed, the result can show the cancer to be either at an early stage or an advanced stage.

The National Cancer Institute recently released several new ePubs you can download for FREE, that feature very specific information and help for those faced with cancer. These very informative publications are available from the U.S Government Online Bookstore.

Take a look at just a few of the titles, then go to https://bookstore.gpo.gov to learn about the entire series to find those that fit your personal circumstance.

When Someone You Love Is Being Treated for Cancer

When Someone You Love is Being Treated for Cancer is a booklet for friends or family members giving care to a person with cancer. This booklet covers understanding the changes that come in your life with caregiving, how to cope with your feelings and ask for help, tips on caring for both your physical and emotional self, how to talk with your kids about cancer, communicating with your loved one who has cancer, and dealing with other family members and friends.

Children with Cancer

If your child has cancer, this comprehensive guide can help you learn how childhood cancers are diagnosed and treated, as well as how to manage common health problems during treatment. It shares coping and support strategies for every member of your family. Developed by a multidisciplinary a team of experts from across the National Cancer Institute, and parents who have a child with cancer, this guide was designed as a companion for every family that has a child with cancer.

When Someone You Love Has Advanced Cancer

When Someone You Love Has Advanced Cancer is a booklet for friends and family members taking care of a person with advanced cancer. This booklet covers making new decisions about care, how to discuss issues and changes with the health care team, getting support and asking for help, life planning and advance directives, talking with family and friends, talking with children and teens about advanced cancer, communicating with your loved one who has cancer, and tips on caring for both your physical and emotional self.

Life after Cancer Treatment

Life After Cancer Treatment: Facing Forward is a booklet for people who have completed cancer treatment. This booklet covers your new normal, getting follow-up medical care and how to talk with your doctor, following a survivorship care plan, ways to manage physical changes, body changes and intimacy issues, coping with your feelings, and going back to work.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office.

 

Leave a Comment » | Department of Health & Human Services, ebooks, health, Health care, NIH | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

September is National Suicide Prevention Month

September 24, 2018

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, in America an average of 123 suicides occur every day; the tenth leading cause of death, second leading for ages 25-34, and third leading for ages 15-24. To create awareness and strengthen the fight against suicide, the month of September has been named “Suicide Prevention Month”. Suicide prevention organizations aim to decrease suicides by 20 percent over the next seven years, by making a conscious effort to talk openly about suicide, its warning signs, how to prevent it, discuss it, whether in school, workplace, and across general and social media platforms. You can participate in the fight. Get involved with local organizations and listen carefully to friends, family, anyone you make contact with who give the signs of needing help.

The U.S. Government Bookstore offers a number of authoritative works to support those in need and people ready to help with this national crisis – in print and DVD.

Here are a few examples:

How To Talk to a Child About a Suicide Attempt in the Family (Booklet and DVD Set Kit).This easy-to-ready, yet in-depth, multimedia publication informs and guides adults when talking to children about a family suicide attempt.  The package, a booklet and DVD, informs adults how to talk to preschoolers, school-aged children, and teenagers.  Included for each age group is information about when and where to talk to children, examples of what to say, children reactions to expect and how to handle them, plus ways to support children (special activities and outlets to keep them active, and encourage expressing their emotions).

Stories of Hope and Recovery: A Video Guide for Suicide Attempt Survivors (DVD) features inspiring stories from three people who survived an attempted suicide. Told through their voices and those of their families, the stories recount their journeys from the suicide attempt to a life of hope and recovery. Includes a video guide.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office.

Leave a Comment » | Department of Health & Human Services, Family | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

The Opioid Crisis Reaches Epic Proportions Across America

August 8, 2018

Our nation faces a crisis of overdose deaths from opioids, including heroin, illicit fentanyl, and prescription opioids. These deaths represent a mere fraction of the total number of Americans harmed by opioid misuse and addiction. Many Americans now suffer daily from a chronic medical illness called “opioid addiction” or OUD. Healthcare professionals, treatment providers, and policymakers have taken on the responsibility to expand access to evidence-based, effective care for people with OUD.

The New York Times reported in 2017 “the current opioid epidemic is the deadliest drug crisis in American history. Overdoses, fueled by opioids, are the leading cause of death for Americans under 50 years old — killing roughly 64,000 people last year, more than guns or car accidents, and doing so at a pace faster than the HIV epidemic did at its peak”.

The Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) series fulfills The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) mission by providing science based best-practice guidance to the behavioral health field. TIPs reflect careful consideration of all relevant clinical and health service research, demonstrated experience, and implementation requirements.

If you, family members or friends have been directly impacted by opioid use, check out the SAMHSA publication Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 63: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder from the GPO Bookstore. This publication can provide you with a comprehensive understanding of opioid use and its effect on human life.

Key information for readers includes:

  • Increasing opioid overdose deaths, illicit opioid use, and prescription opioid misuse constitute a public health crisis.
  • OUD medications reduce illicit opioid use, retain people in treatment, and reduce risk of opioid overdose death better than treatment with placebo or no medication.
  • Only physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants can prescribe buprenorphine for OUD. They must get a federal waiver to do so.
  • Only federally certified, accredited OTPs can dispense methadone to treat OUD. OTPs can administer and dispense buprenorphine without a federal waiver.

Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 63: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder is now available as a FREE eBook download from the U.S. Government Bookstore here.

This eBook is also available as a FREE download through Apple iTunes, Barnes and Noble Nook eBookstore, Google Play, EBSCOhost database, Overdrive, and ProQuest platforms. Please use ISBN: 9780160943751 to search for this ePub product format within these platforms. PDF format also available through Overdrive, ProQuest, EBSCO, and Academic Pub – please use ISBN: 9780160943775 for the PDF Format through these channels.  Lastly, an XML format is available through Rittenhouse R2 Digital Library. Please search their platform with ISBN: 9780160943782.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THIS RESOURCE?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office.

Leave a Comment » | Department of Health & Human Services, ebooks, Family, Health care, NIH | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

New Federal Government Publication Offers Help to Combat Opioid Crisis

May 7, 2018

Every American with a family member, friend, or associate dealing with a personal opioid disorder knows the opioid crisis is real and often personally devastating.

For those who have not yet had to deal directly with this crisis, the statistics are compelling enough to deserve everyone’s attention and desire to become more educated on the effect opioids can have on a person’s health. It is wise to be prepared to take action if you or someone you know are faced with this crisis firsthand.

According to the National Institutes of Health, “every day more than 115 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total “economic burden” of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement. In response to the opioid crisis, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is focusing its efforts on five major priorities:

  • Improving access to treatment and recovery services
  • Promoting use of overdose-reversing drugs
  • Strengthening our understanding of the epidemic through better public health surveillance
  • Providing support for cutting-edge research on pain and addiction
  • Advancing better practices for pain management

The Medication-Assisted Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: Pocket Guide was created by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to inform and prepare physicians using medication-assisted treatment for patients with opioid use disorder. It discusses various types of approved medications, screening and assessment tools, and best practices for patient care.

Though primarily produced for the medical community, this pocket guide provides critical information to anyone looking to assist a person in need. This publication is available on the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov/.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THIS RESOURCE?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office.

Leave a Comment » | Department of Health & Human Services, Health care, NIH | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

“Maximize Your Dollars During Money Smart Week” Part 2: Long-Term Care Financial Planning

April 24, 2018

Money Smart Week helps consumers manage their personal finances better. We have put together a four-part series called “Maximize Your Dollars During Money Smart Week” showcasing different Federal publications to offer financial planning for American citizens.

  • Part 1 will focus on financial aid
  • Part 2 will focus on long-term healthcare planning
  • Part 3 will focus on retirement planning
  • Part 4 will focus on the U.S. Federal Government Finances

Part 2: Long-Term Care Financial Planning

“Maximize Your Dollars During Money Smart Week” presents #eldercare resources for seniors and their families to plan for long-term care needs.

Need help planning for long-term healthcare and figuring out what services are covered by Medicare?

Medicare & Home Health Care is the official Federal Government resource providing you with the “Go-To” information you need to determine your Medicare rights.  It helps answer these questions:

  • Who’s eligible?
  • What services are covered?
  • How do I find and compare home health agencies?

Medicare-eligible individuals and their families, home health care personnel and agencies, skilled-nursing care facilities, physical and occupational therapists, physicians and medical teams that treat Medicare patients, may be most interested in this guide. Many may find the Home Health Agency and Home Health Care checklists helpful in finding home health care for their needs. A glossary is also included for a better understanding of health care terms..

Your Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home or Other Long-Term Services & Supports provides a detailed outline of different types of insurance., Here you’ll find an explanation of the role  Medicare and Medicaid play in the process of acquiring nursing home care or alternative types of care. The guide also provides a “Definitions” section and a Nursing Home checklist. People considering entering nursing homes or receiving elder care, as well as family members helping to make this choice with their elderly loved ones, will find this informative publication extremely helpful.

Don’t forget … just like younger people, seniors need exercise too – Check out our resources collection on aging and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Part 1 in this blog series – Financial Planning for Post-High School Education

Coming soon – Part 3 Retirement Planning and Federal Finance Management

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: This week’s blog contributor is Maureen Whelan, Senior Marketing Team Leader for GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office in Washington, DC. Maureen oversees print and digital content dissemination strategy and manages third party free and paid content distribution through platforms and vendors, such as Apple iBookstore, Barnesandnoble.com, Google Play eBookstore, Ebscohost databases, Overdrive, and ProQuest.

Leave a Comment » | aging, Department of Health & Human Services, finances, Health care | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

New Year, New Personal Goals – Welcome 2018!

January 4, 2018

This year, I am keeping one goal that I started last spring –to eat healthier food, mainly fruits and vegetables.    So, out came the cookbooks and dietary guidelines for guidance as I push myself in this direction …. Here are a few titles from the US Federal Government that I referred to, and that may interest you also:

Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020. The Dietary Guidelines is designed for professionals to help all individuals ages 2 years and older and their families consume a healthy, nutritionally adequate diet. The information in the Dietary Guidelines is used in developing Federal food, nutrition, and health policies and programs. It is also the basis for Federal nutrition education materials designed for the public and for the nutrition education components of  HHS and USDA food programs. It is developed for use by policymakers and nutrition and health professionals.

This publication is available in paperback and free eBook formats here – scroll to the right of your screen and click the format drop down to find the other formats.   Free ePub format also available from Apple iBookstore, BarnesandNoble (Nook eBookstore), Google Play eBookstore, and Overdrive.  Please use ePub ISBN: 9780160934650 to search these platforms.  Also available in PDF format through EBSCOhost, Academic Pub, Rittenhouse R2, and ProQuest databases.  Please use PDF ISBN: 9780160934674 to search these academic platforms.

Recipes for Healthy Kids Cookbook for Schools. While the premise for this book was based on a healthy eating competition in schools across America, the contents will apply to children, adults, and school cafeterias to meet nutritional planning objectives.  For me, personally, there are a number of recipes that I can incorporate healthy fruits and vegetables to meet my 2018 personal goal for healthy eating.

Staying Active

Another personal goal for me in year 2018 is to get back to exercising a few times a week.  Living in the Washington, DC area, I often observe military personnel taking part in exercise programs during my early morning commutes and know this must be how many of them stay fit.  Therefore, I am excited about the recently published work by the US Army:

Performance Triad, The Total Army Family Guide: A Guide To Help With Enhancing Your Health With Sleep, Activity, and Nutrition. This resource from the US Army is presented in different modules, so a person can choose the modules best for them.  There many fitness modules to choose from. As an individual increases the number of repetitions at his or her own pace, it can improve strength and overall fitness.

Exercising My Brain

My other personal goal for this year is to reduce my hours of watching television and increase my self-education through online webinars and reading.  In this New Year, I plan to renew my library card — an affordable way to achieve this goal!

Some US Federal Government self-education books that I would like to recommend to others include:

Economic Security: Neglected Dimension of National Security – Paperback format with reduced list price (while supplies last) can be found here. I found this book to be engaging because it directly relates to today’s defense planning matters that impact America’s national security budgets.  Also available in ePub format for $7.99 list price from Apple iBookstore using ePub ISBN: 9780160915727.

North Korea and nuclear missile defense seems to be on many of my friends minds these days and this subject found its way into many holiday discussions with family and friends.  These are some books that I have read that provided some insights into our military future:

The Asia Pacific Century: Challenges and Opportunities. In 2002 Pres. George W. Bush proclaimed that the twenty-first century would be the “Asia-Pacific Century.” While I am not sure he was the first person to use that phrase—and it has been often used by others over the past 10 years—for those who study the region and/or have more than a casual familiarity with the region, the proclamation rings true. In a November 2011 article in Foreign Policy magazine, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton went so far as to say, “The future of politics will be decided in Asia, not Afghanistan or Iraq, and the United States will be right at the center of the action.” These are powerful words, underscoring the fact that Asia matters, and it matters a great deal.

Chinese Strategic Perspectives-Chinese Military Diplomacy: 2003- 2016, Trends and Implications This publication provides a history of Chinese military diplomacy from 2003 to 2016, and discusses future implications of this diplomacy for the United States and the international community.

Thank you for reading and I would love to hear your comments about this post.  Best wishes for health and success in 2018!

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: This week’s blog contributor is Maureen Whelan, Senior Marketing Team Leader for GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office in Washington, DC. Maureen oversees print and digital content dissemination strategy and manages third party free and paid content distribution through platforms and vendors, such as Apple iBookstore, Barnes and Noble.com, Google Play eBookstore, Ebscohost databases, Overdrive, and ProQuest.

Leave a Comment » | Consumers, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health & Human Services, Family, Health care | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October 24, 2017

Since 1981, October has been recognized as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in honor of the “Day of Unity” which was held that year and was conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) says the intent of that first “Day of Unity” was to join advocates all over the Nation who were working to end violence against women and their children.

The Day of Unity soon became an entire week devoted to a range of activities conducted at the local, state, and national level. The activities varied wildly but had three common themes:

  • Mourning those who have died because of domestic violence.
  • Celebrating those who have survived.
  • Connecting those who work to end violence.

In 1989, the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 101-112 designating October of that year as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Such legislation has passed every year since with National Coalition Against Domestic Violence providing key leadership in this effort.

The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) offers access to several items that can help your organization raise awareness. The U.S. Government Bookstore offers several titles that can aid in learning more about this topic. Some of those include:

  • Understanding Domestic Violence: A Handbook for Victims and Professionals – This book provides help to better understand how domestic violence affects adult and child victims and offers tools to help prevent further injury or death. It also explains how the civil and criminal justice system can work for the protection of the victims.
  • Preventing Intimate Partner Violence Across the Lifespan: A Technical Package of Programs, Policies and Practices – This book represents a select group of strategies based on the best available evidence to help communities and states sharpen their focus on prevention activities with the greatest potential to prevent intimate partner violence (IPV) and its consequences. Some of these strategies include teaching safe and healthy relationship skills, engaging influential adults and peers, disrupting the developmental pathways toward IPV, creating protective environments, strengthening economic supports for families, and supporting survivors to increase safety and lessen harm.

GPO also offers access to the original version of Public Law 101-112 through govinfo.gov, where you can also find access to the latest U.S. Government information on the Violence Against Women Act.

The Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP) offers transcripts of a hearing before the Senate’s Judiciary Committee on How the Violence against Women Act Serves Hawaii Military Families Experiencing Domestic Violence, and another hearing before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on Domestic Violence in Professional Sports.

GPO will continue to provide access to Federal Government information on multiple issues that affect the public, and to Keep America Informed.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Click on the Links: For the free resources, click on the links above in the blog post.

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Blogger contributor Scott Pauley is a Writer and Editor in GPO’s Library Services and Content Management offices.

Leave a Comment » | Centers for Disease Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health & Human Services, Family, Women | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month

August 23, 2017

For Breastfeeding Awareness Month, new mothers gain breastfeeding advice from US Health and Human Services (HHS), Office on Women’s Health (OWH).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2016 Breastfeeding Report Card, over 80 percent of women in the U.S. initiate breastfeeding. However, barely more than half (51.8 percent) of infants are still breastfeeding at 6 months. Even though the decision to breastfeed is a personal one and a mother should not be made to feel guilty if she cannot or chooses not to breastfeed, mothers still face many barriers such as: lack of knowledge, social norms, stigma, poor family and social support, lactation problems, employment and child care challenges, and barriers related to health practices in hospitals.

Your Guide to Breastfeeding, produced by OWH, provides moms with the support they need to breastfeed successfully. It offers information on how milk is made, tips for making breastfeeding as comfortable as possible, and practical advice for overcoming challenges, latching, using breast pumps, storing milk, breastfeeding in public, handling stress, going back to work, weaning, and more.

This free publication is available two ways:

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: This week’s blog contributor is Maureen Whelan, Senior Marketing Team Leader for GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office in Washington, DC. Maureen oversees print and digital content dissemination strategy and manages third party free and paid content distribution through platforms and vendors, such as Apple iBookstore, Barnes and Noble.com, Google Play eBookstore, Ebscohost databases, Overdrive, and more.

Leave a Comment » | Children, Department of Health & Human Services, Family, Parenting, Women | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »