Mission Statement: “To improve the health and quality of life in our community by eliminating health disparities; increasing access to health care; early disease detection; disease prevention and control; and promoting healthy lifestyles through policy development, implementation, surveillance and intervention; and providing social services in collaboration with community partners and stakeholders.”
The Section administers federal grants such as the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program and the Tobacco Quitline, the Sexual Violence and Prevention Program, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the Non-Communicable Disease Control Program, and the Office of Minority Health.
Inside the Community Health Services Section
Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
The Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to qualified women.
The program enhances existing systems for breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services, follow-up, case management and support services to qualified women. Clinical services that are provided through contracted health providers are: clinical breast exams, mammograms, pap tests, pelvic examinations, HPV tests, diagnostic testing if results are abnormal, and referrals to treatment. The program also conducts public education and awareness on cancer upon request or through health fairs and outreach events and activities.
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Program
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Program conducts random telephone surveys that collect information on health risk behaviors, preventive health practices, and health care access primarily related to chronic disease and injury.
This program conducts a cross-sectional telephone survey that collects prevalence data among Guam adult residents 18 years of age and older regarding their risk behaviors and preventive health practices that can affect their health. BRFSS data can help to identify and track health-related risk behaviors and chronic conditions, track health objectives, evaluate disease prevention activities, and assess emerging health problems. For more information about the BRFSS program at CDC, visit that agency’s website at www.cdc.gov/brfss
Comprehensive Cancer Control Program
The Comprehensive Cancer Control Program develops policies and promote activities that improve the quality and access to cancer information.
Comprehensive Cancer Control is a collaborative process through which a community pools resources to reduce the burden of cancer that results in: risk reduction, early detection, better treatment, and enhanced survivorship. The Guam Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (GCCCP) is funded through a grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services. This is not a direct service program. Instead, this program focuses on bringing representatives from the cancer network on Guam (public, private, and non-profit organizations as well as individuals) together to address prevention; early detection and treatment; survivorship; data and research; and policy and advocacy issues faced by cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and families on Guam.
Coordinated Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Program
Coordinated Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Program conducts activities that will ultimately reduce mortality due to chronic diseases, reduce the prevalence of disabling chronic diseases, improve the quality of life and health outcomes.
Non-communicable Disease Control Program
The Non-communicable Disease Control (NCD) Program addresses Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol, Physical Activity and Obesity (SNAPO).
Through active collaboration with the community partners, a NCD Consortium was established to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke/CVA, cancer, diabetes, etc. The program addresses smoking, nutrition, alcohol, physical activity and obesity.
For more information about the Non-Communicable Disease Consortium, please visit http://livehealthy.guam.gov
Diabetes Prevention and Control Program
The Diabetes Prevention and Control Program develops policies and promotes activities that improve the quality and access to diabetes care.
This program develops policies and promotes activities that improve the quality and access to diabetes care. Through collaboration with community partners and coalitions promotes an integrated and comprehensive approach by conducting education, awareness, and training on diabetes prevention and control.
Health Education Section
Health Education Section, in collaboration with the other programs conducts health information campaign and awareness on healthy practices and lifestyles that are conducive to their health and well-being.
Guam Office of Minority Health
The Guam Office of Minority Health (OMH) works in collaboration and in partnership with local, regional, national and international organizations to promote the elimination of health disparities in minority communities.
The Guam OMH exists to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities, with a focus on under-served and under-represented communities. The Guam OMH manages the Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Program (SVPEP), a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant; serves as a co-facilitator for the Brief Tobacco Intervention (BTI) training, under the Guam Tobacco Prevention and Control Program; and supports community health fairs, school health education, policy development and health initiatives to promote healthier living.
Sexual Violence Prevention and Control Program
The Sexual Violence Prevention and Control Program conducts primary prevention activities addressing rape, sexual abuse and family violence.
This program conducts primary prevention activities addressing rape, sexual abuse, and family violence. Collaborates and networks with the coalition and partner agencies in conducting education and awareness, developing and advocating for policies addressing rape, sexual abuse and family violence prevention.
Tobacco Prevention and Control Program
The Tobacco Prevention and Control Program (TPCP) implements a coordinated and comprehensive approach in tobacco control by developing, enforcing and advocating for policies, counter-marketing strategies, cessation programs, surveillance and evaluation.
The program works to prevent tobacco-related illnesses, by spreading awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine use, and services available to aid in tobacco/nicotine cessation. TPCP engages the community through public outreaches, school presentations, and health/wellness fairs. This community participation is a function of a comprehensive tobacco prevention and control program.
Additionally, TPCP addresses tobacco-use status and encourages cessation and prevention, and maintains direct communication with the Tobacco Free Guam Quitline client services director regarding callers to the Quitline, as well as local Quit Coaches who offer personal tobacco/nicotine cessation facilitation.
If you are ready to quit smoking or using tobacco, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit www.quitnow.net/guam. It’s FREE and open 24/7.