National Women's Health Week — About Womens Health Services

Who:

Women’s Health Services (WHS) is a 501(c) 3 charitable nonprofit organization that has been serving women, children and men in Santa Fe and surrounding counties for 36 years with an annual budget of approximately $2.7 million dollars.

• WHS serves insured and uninsured, underinsured, and medically indigent women and their families
• WHS is one of the few practices accepting a large proportion of Medicaid and Medicare patients without federal support
• Over 32% of WHS patients do not have health insurance. 60% of our patients are at or below 200% of poverty
• WHS provided health care services to over 6,485 people last year, and reached many thousands more with education, outreach and media initiatives

How:

Women’s Health Services’ model combines a cost-effective, sex- and gender-specific approach with integrated behavioral health services and the five components below:

• Direct Health Care Services: Screening, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic conditions
• Leadership: Peer mentoring groups, coaching and leadership workshops throughout the State
• Outreach and Education: Public seminars, conferences, health fairs and screenings for over 1500 people a year, plus radio programs that reached over 15,000
• Professional Education: Residency training in women’s health, in-services and conferences for providers reaching over 275 community physicians, medical students and residents every year
• Research:  Research projects conducted with partners on women’s health issues. Research Involving Outpatient Settings Network (RIOS Net) at UNM

What:

WHS is in the unique position as a community-based women-centered clinic serving both sexes and all ages to provide quality, effective health programming and a strong bridge to a medical center. Fundraising benefits our full spectrum of direct services, our mission, and our Health outreach and education programs, which include:

• Routine and urgent care for all ages and both sexes
• Mental health services integrated into primary health care services
• Family planning and well-child care
• Gynecological services and procedures
• Chronic disease management
• Cancer and bone density screening
• Physical exams

• Plan B Project—training for peer mentors on emergency contraception and distribution of the very successful Bee Safe card—health resources for teens in SF County. Approximately 5,000 cards are disseminated annually; WHS partners closely with Planned Parenthood and the Santa Fe Public Schools Teen Parent Center.
• Bodyworks—an evidence based nutrition and physical activity curriculum for children 9-14 and their parents. WHS presents the program with schools such as Gonzales Community School.
• Health Careers Pathways—WHS is building a health career program with Capital and Monte del Sol high schools, the Santa Fe Community College and UNM to provide career mentorship, medical education, on-site placements and training through WHS.
• Teen-Friendly Services– WHS is developing youth-friendly protocols, provider resource/referral guides and materials. WHS providers work with Santa Fe and Capital High Schools and Santa Fe Prep to provide “Ask a Doctor,” the “Real Deal on Sex and Relationships” and medical classes. Staff consistently present WHS materials at health and career fairs.