• AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)
  Wonderful site, with all kinds of services, ideas and information for the active (and the emphasis is definitely on active), mature adult. Check out the AgeLine Database, a bibliographic database of approximately 60,000 aging-related citations and abstracts from periodicals, books, research reports, and videos.
• Administration on Aging Center for Communication and Consumer Services
  A searchable site which includes the full text of many of their reports and publications, statistics, bibliographies, and more. It is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• CarePlanner
  A "decision support tool" for seniors and the disabled and their families. It is a well organized and easy to use site which spells out in detail all care options and how to evaluate each. From the Department of Health and Senior Services.
• CareScout
  A commercial site which offers listings of more than 53,000 nursing homes, home health care agencies, and assisted living facilities, and provides quality ratings for nursing homes and home healthcare agencies. Detailed reports, based on government inspections, public health surveys and other private sources are available for a charge of $35.00.
• ElderWeb
  A collection of articles and links to information related to eldercare, for both providers and consumers.
• Empire Medicare Services
  The most helpful feature of this site is the full, updated Medicare Participating Physicians/Suppliers Directory (MEDPARD) - New Jersey. This is a downloadable file for which the user needs Adobe Acrobat software (which is free).
• HealthandAge
  Sponsored by the non-profit Novartis Foundation for Gerontology, this site focuses on the healthy aging process. It provides extensive consumer information in each of its 28 Health Centers, plus pertinent breaking news, and interactive tools such as a BMI calculator. A really nice feature is the normal, large and extra large font choices.
• Medicare
  This is an excellent site, well designed, easy to navigate and geared toward medicare recipients and their families. A great deal of effort and care have gone into making this vast and confusing program understandable. It includes the full text of publications on the various medicare health plans; comparison databases such as Medicare Health Plan Compare, Medigap Compare and Nursing Home Compare
• National Institute on Aging (NIA)
  This agency is part of the National Institutes for Health. The site is filled with news and clinical and research information for professionals; but it also provides the full text of its publications database, which includes many consumer brochures, including the "Age Pages," which give simple information on many aging topics and issues.
• SeniorNet
  A non-profit site dedicated to bringing all seniors online. It currently has over 39,000 subscribers who are able to communicate with each other through various discussion groups.
• Statistical Information on Older Persons
  A site developed by the Administration on Aging which provides all kinds of statistics on the aging population.

AIDS and HIV

• AEGIS (Aids Education Global Information System)
  A vast and comprehensive site which is a good source for the latest news on AIDS/HIV from general sources and peer-reviewed journals. It connects over 32,000 electronic bulletin boards in 66 countries and its aim is to "relieve some of the suffering and isolation caused by HIV/AIDS and foster the understanding and knowledge that will lead to better care, prevention and a cure.
• AIDSinfo
  The central source for government information on HIV/AIDS from the Department of Health and Human Services. It includes educational resources such as brochures and fact sheets, treatment guidelines, and privately and federally funded clinical trials.
• The Body: An AIDS and HIV Information Resource
  An up-to-date New York based site which disseminates information relevant to HIV and AIDS. It is geared toward patients, and their families and friends, rather than researchers. Use the Comprehensive Site Map, which divides the vast array of material into a few broad subject headings: AIDS prevention and basics, treatment, quality of life issues, conferences, information for the just diagnosed, and policy and activism.
• HIV InSite
  A comprehensive, extremely well organized first stop for HIV/AIDS information from the University of California San Francisco. It provides medical information, prevention and education resources, social issues and policy information, statistics, key topics arranged by issue, and more.
• International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC)
  A valuable resource for those on the front lines in the fight against AIDS--physicians, patients, researchers and family members. Includes both consumer articles and clinical research papers, news, and more.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

• The Alternative Medicine Homepage
  An excellent starting point for information about and links to the medically unorthodox, from the University of Pittsburgh.
• American Chiropractic Association
  This site is mostly geared toward members of this association and to the defense of chiropractic. There is a consumer section which includes a "Find a Doctor" tool.
• HealthandAge - Alternative Medicine
  This page, sponsored by the Novartis Foundation for Gerontology, an independent non-profit organization, provides information on both traditional and alternative approaches to numerous conditions arranged alphabetically, with several cross referencing indexes such as organ and body system, symptoms, etc.
• HerbNET
  A commercial site which provides information on herbs, herb products, remedies, recipes and herb publications. Also includes a monthly magazine, updated twice a week.
• IBIDS (International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements) Database
  A service of the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, this is a "database of published, international, scientific literature on dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals and botanicals."
• International Network for Interfaith Health Practices (IHP-NET)
  A project of the Carter Center in Atlanta and Emory University which provides "an Internet electronics forum for dialogue and resource sharing among persons of all religious traditions regarding the dynamic relationship between spirituality and health, especially its practical expression in the advancement of human wellness."
• National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
  A service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, this site is a place where information about complementary and alternative medicine is collected, developed, and disseminated to the public. It provides current, reliable health information to health professionals, patients, and the public. The types of information included are fact sheets, textbooks, journals and journal articles, newsletters and newsletter articles, audiovisuals, directories, manuals, brochures, pamphlets, bibliographies, monographs and reports.
• National Center for Homeopathy
  Includes information on the topic, abstracts of journal articles favorable to homeopathy, and a directory of members.
• University of Washington Medicinal Herb Garden
  Great for color pictures of herbs and links to other plant databases for particular plants. Can search by common name or botanical name.

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

• The Alzheimer Page
  An e-mail discussion group, lots of information organized by category, plus links to other related sites. A service of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center of Washington University in St. Louis.
• Alzheimer's Association
  An especially good site for families of those afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease. There is much caregiving information, plus news, research, an excellent reading list and more.
• Alzheimer's Disease Education & Referral Center (ADEAR)
  A service of the National Institute on Aging which provides news, research updates, information on clinical trials, full text of publications for professionals and consumers, and more.
• MEDLINEplus: Alzheimer's Disease
  The best all around source available on this subject right now. There is a tremendous amount of high quality information here including latest news and research, clinical trials, alternative treatment, resources and organizations, treatment strategies and much more. Most of the information is geared toward the consumer and is arranged in an easily accessible way.

ANATOMY

• The Digital Anatomist Project
  A joint collaboration of biologists and computer scientists at the University of Washington offers digital atlases of various parts of the body, mostly in color.
• Human Anatomy Online
  An interesting and informative site which gives detailed textual and animated graphic information on the human skeletal, digestive, muscle, lymphatic, endocrine, nervous, cardiovascular, reproductive and urinary systems. Click on specific parts of the image of each of these systems and find a simple text overview of that part.
• The Visible Human Homepage
  This site, from the National Library of Medicine, provides complete information about the Visible Human project, plus links to applications for viewing images.

ARTHRITIS

• Arthritis Foundation
  This national organization provides news, facts, local offices, resources, selected full text articles from the current and recent issues of their journal, Arthritis Today, and more.
• Doctor's Guide to Arthritis Information and Resources
  Medical news, information and discussion group for arthritis patients and their families and friends, from a commercial site sponsored by P/S/L Research and Health Partners, a global network of 15 research agencies.
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
  A site geared more toward the professional than the patient. Provides detailed information on research being done by the agency, news, and, of particular interest, clinical studies being done on these diseases.

ASTHMA, ALLERGIES AND LUNG DISEASES

• Allergy & Asthma Network/Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc.
  This support organization provides an especially useful resource for families of asthmatics and those suffering from allergies. Library Journal gives this site a starred review. It presents the latest news and research, a directory of member physicians, a listing of companies that offer member discounts on related products and a catalog of books and videos, fact sheets and medical devices available for purchase.
• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
  Information for both the patient and the professional, including news, government information, physician referral, and frequently asked questions.
• American Lung Association
  The most useful feature of this site is the A-Z listing of lung diseases with the lengthy information in lay language given for each. It also provides news, research, statistics, and the full text of about 25 consumer health documents, some also in Spanish.
• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
  A non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for and controlling asthma and allergic diseases. This site is especially good for locating local support groups.
• The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network
  Information from this non-profit organization which seeks to help families cope with living with food allergies.
• National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
  This agency is part of the National Institutes for Health. The site is filled with news and clinical and research information for professionals; but it does include patient education brochures on heart and vascular diseases, lung diseases, blood and sleep disorders.
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAD)
  This organization is part of the National Institutes of Health. The site's most helpful feature is the extensive full text information given in the "Publications" section.

BRAIN

• Brain Injury Association of America
  A comprehensive site from this non-profit organization whose mission is "to create a better future through brain injury prevention, research, education and advocacy." There is an up-to-date national directory for brain injury rehabilitation services, plus the anatomy of a brain injury and information on living after a brain injury. Also links to the New Jersey Chapter.
• DANA.org: The Site for Brain Information
  Provides recent articles from newsletters and a few good annotated links for 32 diseases and disorders involving the brain, such as autism, epilepsy, addiction, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, etc. The site is sponsored by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, a non-profit organization of "more than 200 pre-eminent neuroscientists ... dedicated to advancing education about the brain."
• The Whole Brain Atlas
  Although very clinical in nature, this site from Harvard Medical School is interesting nonetheless. Shows images of the normal brain and the brain with various diseases.

CANCER

• American Cancer Society
  All about this non-profit organization which is one of the best known groups fighting the disease through research and education. Includes much consumer oriented cancer information plus locations of local chapters.
• Association of Cancer Online Resources (ACOR)
  Provides approximately 100 mailing lists which are specifically designed to be public online support groups providing information and community to cancer patients, caregivers, their families and the general public.
• Cancer Care
  A site from this nonprofit organization dedicated to helping cancer patients and their families cope with the emotional, social and financial burdens of cancer. Among its interactive services is online help in locating clinical trials.
• Cancer.gov
  Information for health professionals, patients, families and the public from the National Cancer Institute, the nation's primary agency for cancer research and the Cancer Information Service (CIS), the NCI's link to the public through 14 regional offices. Patient and professional literature can be searched separately by keyword. Their CANCERLIT® database contains 1.8 million citations and abstracts on cancer topics from 4,000 journals, books, reports and theses.
• Clinical Trials from Cancer.gov
  This site is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and includes their Clinical Trials Database and summaries of results as well as information on understanding the clinical trial process.
• National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
  An excellent site for cancer patients and survivors. Also available in Spanish.
• National Foundation for Cancer Research
  News on cancer research by cancer type and research type, plus an archive of recent articles on cancer research.
• OncoLink
  Excellent and extensive site for up-to-date cancer information of all types from the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Searchable by keyword.
• SEER
  SEER stands for the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute which is "the most authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival in the United States."
• Washington - Alaska Cancer Pain Initiative
  Although this site is geared specifically toward residents of Washington State and Alaska, there is much information and many resources and links on cancer pain management for patients, families and medical personnel.

CAREGIVING

• The Caregiver's Handbook
  A well organized nine-part online handbook with such chapters as "Caring for the Caregiver," "Personal Care," "Nutrition," "Legal and Financial Affairs," "Emotional and Intellectual Well-Being."
• Caregiving.com
  A commercial site providing online support for the caregiver, divided up into the six stages of caregiving with resources for each step.
• Family Caregiver Alliance
  A support organization for caregivers of adults with Alzheimer's Disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's Disease, ALS and related brain disorders. Provides, in addition to its online caregiver support group, news, an information clearinghouse, an online resource center, and more.
• National Alliance for Caregiving
  Good source of reports, tips, affiliates and links.
• National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA)
  A "grass roots organization created to educate, support, empower and speak up for the millions of Americans who care for chronically ill, aged or disabled loved ones."
• Well Spouse Foundation
  International support organization for wives, husbands and partners of the chronically ill or disabled.

CHILDREN'S HEALTH

• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  Extensive, searchable site provided by this organization of 5600 child and adolescent psychiatriasts. Information is geared mostly toward the professional, but it does have a section called "Facts for Families."
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
  Includes much information for parents and children.
• American Academy of Pediatrics
  Although this site is geared mainly toward the pediatric health professional, there is a section for families that has much interesting information.
• Children with Diabetes
  A friendly online meeting place for children with diabetes and their parents, plus resources, news, and dozens of tips.
• DrGreene.com
  An excellent commercial pediatric site from which board-certified pediatrician Dr. Greene answers e-mail questions. There is a vast archive of answered questions categorized by subject, and an online pediatric encycylopedia.
• Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC)
  An organization whose goal is to "reduce child and youth disabilities and death due to severe illness or injury." This site is packed with updates about their activities toward reaching these goals, in addition to useful information on injury and illness prevention and care.
• healthfinder KIDS
  The children's health section of the U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion's huge consumer health gateway site. It provides simple health information, games, safe Internet surfing strategies, etc.
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
  All about this non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and funding research to find a cure for diabetes and its complications. Includes a list of local chapters.
• KidsHealth
  A good site for general children's health information for parents, teens and children, which is searchable by keyword. From the Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media.
• National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health
  An organization which provides "national leadership to the maternal and child health community in three key areas--program development, policy analysis and education, and state of the art knowledge--to improve the health and well being of the nation's children and families." It includes a direct link to the Maternal and Child Health Library.
• National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
  The homepage of this government organization whose goal is "to assure that every child is born healthy, wanted and with the opportunity to fulfill his or her own potential for a healthy and productive life unhampered by disease or disability."

CLINICAL TRIALS

• AIDSinfo - Clinical Trials
  This site, from the Department of Health and Human Services, provides current information on federally and privately sponsored clinical trials.
• CenterWatch Clinical Trials Listing Service
  A commercial site which strives to be "the information source for the clinical trials industry." As such, it not only lists trials by medical category and geographic area, but also provides information about clinical research, research centers and industry profiles, notification and matching services, lists of drugs currently in clinical research and a results database. Although commercial, there are no drug advertisements on the site.
• Clinical Trials from Cancer.gov
  This site is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and includes their Clinical Trials Database and summaries of results as well as information on understanding the clinical trial process.
• ClinicalTrials.gov
  The National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health sponsor this site which provides extensive and easily accessible information on government-sponsored clinical research and trials.
• TrialsCentral
  A non-commercial site which takes the user to Web sites with databases of clinical trials, rather than to the actual trials themselves. Use this in conjunction with CenterWatch above.

DENTAL CARE

• Academy of General Dentistry
  All about this "international dental organization of 35,000 general dentists in the United States and Canada who are dedicated to continuing dental education and to providing the patient with the best possible care." Includes information for the consumer.
• ADA.org
  The official home page of the American Dental Association. Information and links are geared toward both the consumer and the professional.
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
  Includes much information for parents and kids.
• National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse
  A service of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research which is one of the National Institutes of Health. It targets the information needs of special care patients (those with genetic or systemic disorders that affect oral health, whose medical treatments cause oral problems, or whose mental or physical disabilities complicate oral hygiene or treatment) and the health care providers who serve them.
• The Virtual Dental Center
  All kinds of up-to-date dental information for professionals and consumers from Martindale Health Sciences.

DIABETES

• American Diabetes Association
  Includes the tables of contents and selected articles from their journal, Diabetes Forecast, plus news, legislation, living well information, and a new recipe every day.
• Children with Diabetes
  A friendly online meeting place for children with diabetes and their parents, plus resources, news, and dozens of tips. Searchable by keyword.
• Diabetic Gourmet Magazine
  An online magazine which offers resources for diabetic living. Particularly useful are the many recipes, with searchable index. A free e-mail newsletter is also available.
• The Diabetes Mall
  A large database of various treatments, therapy, products and research from Diabetes Services, Inc.
• Diabetes Public Health Resource
  From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
• Joslin Diabetes Center
  This Center is affiliated with Harvard Medical Center, and the site provides news, discussion boards, a catalog of publications that can be ordered, a list of its satellite and affiliated centers in the United States, and more.
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
  All about this non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and funding research to find a cure for diabetes and its complications. Includes a list of local chapters.
• National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC)
  From the National Institutes of Health.
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  This organization is part of the National Institutes of Health, and this site includes the full text of all their consumer pamphlets on diabetes, plus news and information for professionals.

DIGESTIVE DISEASES

• The American Gastroenterological Association
  Information on all types of digestive diseases mostly for the professional, but there is a section for patients as well, plus an online forum.
• Living-Better.com
  A commercial site on ulcerative colitis. Although informative and well organized, more emphasis is placed on the drug which sponsors the site.
• National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
  An information dissemination service of NIDDK, containing the full text of numerous publications online plus ordering information to obtain printed and multiple copies of publications.
• National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  This organization is part of the National Institutes of Health, and this site includes the full text of all their consumer pamphlets on digestive diseases, plus news and information for the professional.

DISABILITIES

• Ability OnLine
  An electronic mail system that connects young people who have disabilities or chronic illnesses to disabled and non-disabled peers and mentors.
• ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) Home Page
  Contains information for technical assistance in becoming ADA compliant, court settlements, status reports, and more.
• The Arc
  Good site for information, news and government reports on mental retardation and links to related sites provided by the nation's largest voluntary organization dedicated to serving the mentally retarded. Includes a listing of local chapters with contact information.
Autism
• Autism Resources
  A good general selection of links created by the father of an autistic boy and kept up to date. He makes it clear that he only maintains the list and does not input any content or field questions.
• Autism Society of America
  A non-profit organization which provides extensive, helpful and supportive information about the diagnosis of autism and educating and caring for children with the disorder.
• Center for the Study of Autism
  Includes descriptions of autism subgroups and related disorders, discussion of issues, and current treatment strategies. Information is given in English, Spanish, Chinese, Italian, Japanese and Korean.
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• CAST: Center for Applied Technology
  "A not-for-profit organization that uses technology to expand opportunities for all people, especially those with disabilities. " An interesting feature of this site is Bobby, which is a Web page testing tool "designed to help expose and repair barriers to accessibility and encourage compliance with existing accessibility guidelines."
• Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
  A coalition of national consumer, advocacy, provider and professional organizations which advocates for people with physical and mental disabilities. A good site to check to keep up to date on news, policy and research on disabilities.
• CODI: Cornucopia of Disability Information
  All kinds of disability information for both consumers and professionals including adaptive tools, able data fact sheets, searchable directories of disability organizations, and much more. From the State University of New York at Buffalo.
• Disabled Sports USA
  A national non-profit organization, serving over 60,000 people annually, which provides sports and recreation services to children and adults with physical or mobility related disability. It is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
• Easter Seals
  Well organized site with services listed by city and state, and disability laws spelled out from the oldest nationwide network of programs serving the disabled. Use the site map for easier navigating.
Learning Disabilities
• CHADD: Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
  All kinds of information about this disorder from the nationwide organization. Includes a listing of local chapters of the organization. Also available in Spanish.
• LD Online
  A service of The Learning Project of WETA, the public broadcasting station in Washington, D.C.
• Learning Disabilities Association of America
  A comprehensive resource for information on the range of learning disabilities affecting children and adults.
• Literacy and Learning Disabilities Special Collection
  A collection of resources providing a single point of access to information on LD issues important to adults with learning disabilities, their families, literacy practitioners, employers and professionals who work with adults. From Southern LINCS (Literacy Information aNd Communication System).
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• New Mobility
  A monthly magazine "written by and for wheelchair users" and "dedicated to Disability Culture and Lifestyle." Includes online issues of the magazine from October 1996 to the present, how to subscribe, many links, a message board and keyword search capability.
• oandp.com: The Global Resource for Orthotics & Prosthetics Information
  A storehouse of valuable information and links for physicians, physical therapists, caregivers and amputees.
• Section 508
  The Rehabilitation Act was amended in 1998 to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. This amendment is called "Section 508." This site provides federal employees and the public resources for understanding and implementing its requirements.
• Wheelweb.com: Spinal Cord Injury Resource
  Bulletin board, chatroom, news, a place for those in wheelchairs.
  

DRUGS AND PHARMACEUTICALS

• Drug Information from the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research of the FDA (CDER)
  A vast pharmaceutical site from the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) which includes such documents as the FDA Drug Approvals List, Approved Drug Products, National Drug Code Directory, plus the latest official stories on newsworthy drugs and much more. Some directories require a viewer to be configured.
• Healthtouch Online
  A searchable database containing information for over 7000 prescription and over the counter medications. Also includes vitamins, supplements and natural herbs.
• MEDLINEplus Drug Information
  Drug information in lay language from the National Library of Medicine.
• NeedyMeds.com
  Many drug companies provide low cost drugs for needy people. This site provides a list of these companies, searchable by company or drug. Patients must apply through their health care provider.
• New Medicines in Development
  From the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, this database can be searched by disease, indication or drug.
• RXList
  An interesting commercial site that not only provides information on pharmaceuticals and generic interactions, but statistics such as the top 200 prescription drugs for each year from 1995 to 2000.

EMERGENCY MEDICINE

• American Red Cross
  The agency which is always there to help in any kind of emergency or disaster has a downloadable guide, Talking About Disaster, which has a great deal of useful information for every family in any emergency.
• Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC)
  An organization whose goal is to "reduce child and youth disabilities and death due to severe illness or injury." This site is packed with updates about their activities toward reaching these goals, in addition to useful information on injury and illness prevention and care.
• EMTALA.com
  This site explains the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), also known as the "Patient Anti-Dumping Act." It details when and how a hospital that receives federal funding may refuse a patient treatment or transfer a patient in unstable condition to another hospital.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
  This site contains information on all kinds of disaster preparedness and relief, in addition to emergency medical care. Includes Are You Ready? A Guide to Citizen Preparedness, with facts on survival techniques for both natural and man-made disasters. Very up to date.
• Learn CPR - You Can Do It
  "An informational site on the basics of CPR."
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
  This government agency, which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, provides a wide range of information on safety in the workplace plus Emergency Response Resources.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
  An agency of the U.S. Department of Health dedicated to preventing exposure and adverse health effects associated with exposure to hazardous substances. Packed with information, including the full text of all of their "ToxFAQ" sheets (one page descriptions, in understandable language, of all hazardous substances) and related links. Searchable.
• American Water Works Association
  Reports, government regulations, conferences, databases and water discussion groups from this nonprofit organization dedicated to safe drinking water.
• ehp Online
  A service of the National Institute of Environmental Health Services which is part of the National Institutes of Health. Includes the full text of the current issue of their journal Environmental Health Perspectives, reports, three National Toxicology Program databases and much more. More information is available with an online subscription.
• National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)
  This organization is part of the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the site provides news, full text publications for both the professional and the consumer, calendar of events, and more.
• National Toxicology Program
  A government program, established in 1978 by the Department of Health and Human Services "to coordinate toxicological testing programs, to strengthen the science base in toxicology, to develop and validate improved testing methods, and to provide information about potentially toxic chemicals to health regulatory and research agencies, the scientific and medical community and the public." The site includes the full text of their fact sheets and publications.
• Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics (OPPT)
  A part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency formed in 1977 whose mission is to promote pollution prevention, to promote safer chemicals, to promote chemical risk reduction, and to promote public understanding of chemical risks. The site links to the rules and legislation which the office is responsible for implementing, online chemical databases, available publications, and more.

EPILEPSY

• Ask NOAH About Epilepsy
  New York Online Access to Health (NOAH) provides up-to-date and extensive information and excellent links.
• Childhood Epilepsy
  Maintained by a couple who lost a child to this disease, the site not only contains much information about the disease, but also provides an opportunity to communicate with other parents dealing with it. Also includes a form to fill out to get your child's profile.
• Epilepsy Foundation of America
  This site contains much news and information about epilepsy, information about the foundation, related links and a chatroom. Searchable.

FITNESS AND EXERCISE

• American Volkssport Association's Volksmarch and Walking Index
  Where and with whom to walk for fitness. Includes a geographical list of clubs and events.
• Cool Running
  Resources, events and news for runners.
• Dead Runners Society
  Despite the off-putting name, this organization, a discussion group for people who like to talk about running, is a good resource for running information on the Internet.
• The Physician and Sportsmedicine
  Monthly journal reviewing the medical aspects of sports, exercise, nutrition and fitness, which includes much common sense information for the lay person. The library has access to the full text of this journal through Dow Jones News Retrieval from 10/94 to the present.
• Runner's World
  The Web site of the popular Runner's World magazine, which is held in paper copy in this library.
• Shape Up America!
  An extensive, well developed comprehensive fitness Web site that is designed to provide the user with "the latest information about safe weight management, healthy eating, increased activity and physical fitness." The site is sponsored by many non-profit organizations concerned with improving the health of the American public.

FOOT CARE

• American Podiatric Medical Association
  Information for consumers, patients and health professionals. Includes the full text of brochures on a wide variety of foot care problems.
• Foot & Ankle Web Index
  A commercial site which provides consumer and professional information, product recommendations, a large library of related links, and an "Ask the Foot Doctor" online question form.

GENETICS AND RARE GENETIC DISEASES

• Albinism and Hypopigmentation
• Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T)
• Chromosome 18 Abnormalities
• CMTnet: Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
• Fragile X Syndrome (FRAXA)
• Genetic Alliance
  A non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals and families who have genetic disorders. The site provides information on publications, events and support groups.
• Huntington's Disease Society of America
• National Human Genome Research Institute This institute leads the Human Genome Project, "the international effort to map and sequence all the genes in the human body."
• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
  This useful site contains information on over 1000 rare diseases and syndromes, plus an orphan drug database and a database of organizations that serve the needs of people with rare disorders and disabilities. A rare disease is defined as one which affects fewer that 200,000 people in the U.S.
• Office of Rare Diseases
  From the National Institutes of Health, this site provides information about ongoing or planned research studies or clinical trials related to rare diseases or conditions.
• OMIM, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man
  Online version of Dr. Victor McKusik's (of Johns Hopkins) landmark genetics books. It is a database catalog of human genes and genetic disorders, and how genetic differences cause illnesses, deformities and changes among the species, from the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Searchable by keyword.
• Rare Genetic Diseases in Children
  Check here for the names of many more genetic disorders which affect children.
• Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance
• Xeroderma Pigmentosum Society

GRIEF AND BEREAVEMENT

• Beyond Indigo: Changing the Way You Feel About Grief and Loss
  A comprehensive grief and bereavement site which provides a message board, access to a chat room, information on legal issues, articles and newsletters, and more. Also includes Spanish-language message boards.
• GriefNet
  A comprehensive site with an emphasis on e-mail support groups. The site also includes related links and grief resources.
• Growth House, Inc.
  This organization is devoted exclusively to end of life care; however, it provides excellent grief and breavement resources for all situations.

HEALTH CARE LAW, POLICY AND ADVOCACY

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
  This agency is part of the U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare. The site's most useful section is "Research Findings" which includes the full text of its online newsletter, plus extensive current information on research being done in children's and women's health, primary care, and managed and long-term care. Also available in Spanish.
• Center for Health Care Strategies
  A non-profit health research and policy resource center affiliated with the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs at Princeton University. It is the headquarters for several major studies on health care funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Summaries and ordering information are available for their numerous publications.
• Center for Studying Health System Change
  A Washington, DC based organization affiliated with Mathematica Policy Research and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It includes the full text of their press releases, advisories, and issue briefs on timely health issues, and journal articles.
• Commonwealth Fund
  An organization founded in 1918 to "enhance the common good." It publishes highly respected literature in the area of health policy and research. Some of the publications are available online, and ordering information is included for all. The publications include program summaries, surveys, studies, background and technical papers, articles and books.
• Families USA - The Voice for Health Care Consumers
  A "national non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health and long-term care for all Americans." Provides full text of up-to-date publications covering the latest news in Medicare, Medicaid, Managed Care and more. There is an excellent list of related links.
• FindLaw Health Law
  This section of the FindLaw legal Web site provides access to health law resources such as class action suits, recalls, summaries of laws relating to issues such as nursing homes and health care fraud, and much more. The health law Web guide provides lists of related databases, links to health law Web sites, discussion groups, etc.
• National Center of Policy Analysis - Health Issues
  An excellent site for articles on current health issues. The articles cover topics such as Medical Savings Accounts, Managed Care, Medicare, Medicaid, Health Care Reform, Health Systems in other countries, and much more. Only summaries of the articles are given along with the full citation (most are from easily obtainable sources such as The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal). The dates of the articles range from 1994 to the present. A key feature of this site is the full text of the Congressional Health Care Briefing Book which gives a good summary of the current status of the health care system in the United States.
• National Health Law Program, Inc.
  A "national public interest law firm that seeks to improve health care for America's working and unemployed poor, minorities, the elderly and people with disabilities." The site is updated daily with the full text of articles on health policy from major sources such as The New York Times, Reuters, AP, etc., with about one year of archives. It also includes a full list of their publications organized by subject (many of which are available online), and how to order them. It also includes a good list of links.

HEALTH INSURANCE

• American Association of Health Plans
  An excellent source of information about health plan and insurance issues, albeit from the health insurance industry's point of view.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  Complete consumer information on Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program), HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), insurance reform and more. The Medicare Information includes the full text of publications on the various Medicare health plans; comparison databases such as Medicare Health Plan Compare, Medigap Compare, and Nursing Home Compare.
• Consumer Health Education Council (CHEC)
  A non-profit organization which "helps individuals get health care coverage, keep that coverage once it is acquired, and educates on ways to use the coverage effectively." It strives to reduce the number of uninsured people, thereby improving the general health of the country.
• Empire Medicare Services
  The most helpful feature of this site is the full, updated Medicare Participating Physicians/Suppliers Directory (MEDPARD) - New Jersey. This is a downloadable file for which the user needs Adobe Acrobat software (which is free). The library has a printout of this file at the Information Desk.
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners
• National Coalition on Health Care
  A non-profit, non-partisan organization which is the nation's largest and most broadly representative alliance working to improve America's health care, and to provide health insurance for all.
• National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
  NCQA is a private non-profit organization, dedicated to assessing and reporting on the quality of managed care plans. Find out if your plan is accredited.
• New Jersey's HMOs: Performance Report
  Full text of the report card on New Jersey HMOs provided by the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services with the cooperation of the NJ HMOs and the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
• New Jersey State Department of Insurance

HEARING DISORDERS

• Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
  From Gallaudet University, a centralized source of information on deafness and hearing loss.
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
  One of the U.S. National Institutes of Health which strives to broaden the dissemination of information about disorders of human communication. It collects current information in the field of communication sciences and provides information to health professionals, patients, industry, and the public. The types of information included are books, journal articles, directories, bibliographies, fact sheets, manuals, pamphlets, audiovisuals, and other educational materials.

HEART DISEASE

• American Heart Association
  Quick and easy access to the Association's archives and news, plus links to heart information. Searchable.
• Congenital Heart Disease
  Sponsored by the Congenital Heart Information Network, this site provides information for both children and adults. It provides access to CHD-related chat rooms, support groups, informational resources and relevant Internet links.
• The DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)
  This eating plan, from research studies designed to test the effects of diet on blood pressure, was proven to reduce blood pressure and to show quick results. The fact sheet includes summaries of the studies in addition to the diet itself, sample menus and recipes.
• Heart Failure Online
  This site is sponsored by the Sharp Foundation for Cardiovascular Research and Education and the San Diego Cardiac Center. It is a simple, to the point, well organized site with good related links. Also in Spanish.
• Heart Mates
  A commercial site whose best feature is the "Interactive Connections" section, which posts the stories of heart patients and their families and allows you to post yours and interact with others in similar situations.
• Heart Preview Gallery
  A site geared towards children; but it contains much useful information for adults as well, including a detailed description of how the heart works and a quick video of open heart surgery. From the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia
• Heart Support of America
  A national non-profit organization which "provides direct financial assistance to heart disease victims and their families that do not have the resources for the treatment and care they need."
• HeartInfo - Heart Information Network
  A site from the Center for Cardiovascular Education which is packed with information for the layperson. Also searchable by keyword.
• National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
  This agency is part of the National Institutes for Health. The site is filled with news and clinical and research information for professionals; however, it does include the full text of their patient education brochures on heart and vascular diseases, lung diseases, blood diseases and sleep disorders.

HEPATITIS

• HepNet
  Resources, news, and searchable information on all types of hepatitis.
• Hepatitis B Foundation
  A volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating hepatitis B through public education and cure research programs.
• Immunization Action Coalition
  An organization whose mission is to "create, find, and distribute the most complete, up-to-date, and accurate supply and listing of immunization and hepatitis B resources available anywhere." The site does a good job of this, supplying immunization information in a variety of languages. It also provides news via a free e-mail service, and an "Ask the Expert" feature.

IMMUNIZATION

• Immunization Action Coalition
  An organization whose mission is to "create, find, and distribute the most complete, up-to-date, and accurate supply and listing of immunization and hepatitis B resources available anywhere." The site does a good job of this, supplying immunization information in a variety of languages. It also provides news via a free e-mail service, and an "Ask the Expert" feature. Also includes a direct link to Vaccine Information for the Public, a site that presents comprehensive information about specific diseases and the vaccines that prevent them.
• National Immunization Program (Centers for Disease Control)
  A comprehensive source for all types of immunization information, much of it full text, and in readable lay language. There is also information and services for the professional, such as the downloadable CASA (Clinic Assessment Software Application), which is an assessment tool for immunization clinics and providers, and VACMAN (Vaccine Management Systems). Also available in Spanish.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

• Bugs in the News
  Articles on all kinds of newsworthy infectious diseases.
• Emerging Infectious Diseases (Centers for Disease Control)
  This site contains the full text of the current issue of this peer-reviewed journal, plus previous issues back to 1995. It examines emerging infections worldwide in the following formats: perspectives, synopses, dispatches, research studies and policy reviews. The journal is geared toward the professional, but there is much interesting information on this subject for the educated layperson as well.
• National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID)
  Part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, this organization is "committed to the prevention and control of traditional, new, and reemerging infectious diseases in the U.S. and around the world." The site contains news, resources, publications for both the professional and consumer, and more.
• National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
  Offers a wealth of information about infectious diseases, plus research grant information, conferences, news and much more.
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
  This organization is part of the National Institutes of Health. The site's most helpful feature is the extensive full text information given in the "Publications" section.

KIDNEY DISEASE

• American Association of Kidney Patients
  A national non-profit organization which "exists to serve the needs, interests and welfare of kidney patients and their families." The educational and supportive programs are spelled out on this site.
• KidneyDirections
  An interactive patient-education Web site whose mission is to increase awareness and understanding of kidney disease. It provides patients and health care professionals with information and opportunities to interact. Also available in Spanish and Japanese.
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  This organization is part of the National Institutes of Health, and the site includes the full text of their consumer pamphlets on kidney disease plus news, research and information for health care professionals.
• National Kidney Foundation
  Information, resources and links for patients, professionals, and organ and tissue donors and recipients from this national non-profit organization. Information is also available in Spanish.

LUPUS

• Lupus Foundation of America
  A good site for information and news about the disease of lupus, and for links to support groups, both local and online. It also lists all local chapters.
• Lupus from MedlinePlus
  Excellent and well-organized site from the National Library of Medicine.

LYME DISEASE

• American Lyme Disease Foundation (ALDF)
  The goal of this organization is to educate people about the prevention and transmission of Lyme disease. Also available in Spanish.
• Lyme Disease Network
  A non-profit foundation, dedicated to the education of the public about the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease. The site contains general information about the diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment of the disease, plus news, an electronic discussion group, and links to support groups.

MEDICAL ETHICS

• Healthcare Reality Check
  A site produced by the non-profit Georgia Council Against Health Fraud that works to provide the public with reliable information about alternative medicine claims. The searchable site contains news, an online encyclopedia and dictionary of alternative medicine and health, and related links.
• HON Code of Conduct for Medical and Health Web Sites
  Health on the Net Foundation (HON) is a non-profit international organization which provides leadership in setting ethical standards for Web site developers. Look for Web sites displaying the HONcode logo to be sure these standards are met. Two other national organizations committed to high quality health information on the Internet are Internet Healthcare Coalition and Health Internet Ethics (Hi-Ethics).
• The National Council Against Health Fraud
  A non-profit voluntary health agency that focuses on health fraud, misinformation and quackery. The site features the full text of its newsletter back to 1984. It also provides a good list of reliable Web sites, but more importantly, a list of unreliable health Web sites.
• Quackwatch
  An unusual page, to say the least, but with much useful information, including a section on how to spot quackery on the Internet. Also available in Spanish, German, French and Portuguese.

MENTAL HEALTH (General)

• The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Home Page
  Extensive, searchable site provided by this organization of 5600 child and adolescent psychiatrists. Information is geared mostly toward the professional, but it does have a section entitled "Facts for Families."
• The American Psychiatric Association
• American Psychoanalytic Association
  This site includes information about psychoanalysis, the full text of selected articles from the organization's newsletter The American Psychoanalyst, a professional journal and book search database, and a geographic directory of members.
• Internet Mental Health
  A comprehensive, well organized commercial site with no advertising. It includes research on all disorders, online diagnosis capability, information on medications and descriptions for 54 of the most common mental disorders. There are excellent links leading to further information on each disorders, however, the magazine articles could be more recent. Spanish translation available.
• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
  A non-profit organization with local affiliates nationwide "dedicated to the eradication of mental illnesses and to the improvement of the quality of life of all whose lives are affected by these diseases." The four cornerstones of its mission are support, education, advocacy and research.
• National Institute of Mental Health
  This site contains detailed information about the Institute, the full text of many of their brochures, reports, news, grant information and research activities. Their Patient Education Materials section is a good place to go for simple, readable information on a wide range of mental health issues and disorders, including many in Spanish.
• PsychNET
  A service of the American Psychological Association which provides insight into psychological issues for both consumers and professionals.
• SelfhelpMagazine
  An electronic magazine which includes articles, self-help book reviews, movie reviews, software reviews for parents, Q&A, links, lists, etc.

MENTAL HEALTH (Specific Disorders) Listed here are sites for specific mental health disorders; however, the general mental health sites listed above will lead to specific information on all types of disorders.

• Anxiety Disorders Association of America
  A comprehensive site from this non-profit organization which provides lay-language information about the various aspects of the disorder, information for professionals, message boards and chat rooms.
• Anxiety Disorders Education Program
  Easy to use site from the National Institute of Mental Health which provides quick facts, treatment information, news, and a library of brochures.
• Depression Central
  Information on all types of depressive disorders.
• Eating Disorders
• Panic and Anxiety
• The Shyness Homepage
  Maintained by the Shyness Institute, located in Portola Valley, CA.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

• Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
  A national non-profit organization which offers care and support services to patients and their families. Thise site spells out the services that are available.
• Multiple Sclerosis International Federation
  A clearinghouse of information on the subject. Also available in Spanish, German and French.
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society
  From this non-profit organization, a comprehensive, easy to use site which provides information for both the consumer and the professional. Also provides links to local chapters.
• NINDS Multiple Sclerosis Information Page
  From the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, an easy to use informational page which provides information on the disease, its treatment, research and related organizations.

MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

• The ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Association
  A non-profit organization for the neuromuscular disease commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. The site offers a clear lay-language description, referral information for local chapters and support groups, and a description of publications that may be ordered.
• ALS Information and Resources
  From the Doctor's Guide to the Internet, a comprehensive and frequently updated list of links to medical news and alerts, drug information, discussion groups and newsgroups.
• Muscular Dystrophy Association
  A non-profit organization that focuses on over 40 neuromuscular diseases, providing quick basic information for each and clinical trials currently in progress. There is a searchable database of clinics and an "Ask the Experts" section.

NURSING

• American Nurses Association
  A comprehensive index to other nursing sites and Internet resources including online nursing journals and government resources.
• NursingNet
  A clearinghouse of nursing information which includes links to journals, research institutes, nurse practitioners, physicians and more.

NUTRITION

• American Dietetic Association
  Filled with nutrition tips, news and related links. Also provides lists of registered dietitians in your area.
• Ask the Dietitian
  Registered dietitian Joanne Larsen dishes out insightful health and diet advice.
• Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
  This division of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration provides consumer advice and information on cosmetics, food labeling, additives, pesticides and chemical contamination, plus links to other FDA-related sites.
• Food and Nutrition Information Center
  From the National Agricultural Library, a vast compilation of food and nutrition information for consumers of all ages and professionals of all types. The site is easy to use and well organized. It includes online information and publications which can be borrowed through interlibrary loan. Also check out these online publications from the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans; How Much Are You Eating?; Interactive Healthy Eating Index; and Recipes and Tips for Healthy, Thrifty Meals.
• Food Finder
  This site determines the calories, fat, percentage of fat, cholesterol, and sodium content of a variety of fast-food items from 18 well-known restaurant chains.
• Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
  A public health agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture which protects consumers by insuring that meat, poultry and egg products are safe, wholesome, accurately labeled and correctly packaged. Concerned about your Thanksgiving turkey? This site will tell you how to prepare it safely.
• International Food Information Council
  An up-to-date site of all kinds of food information.
• Nutrition Analysis Tool
  Sponsored by the Council on Food and Agricultural Research at the University of Illinois, this site provides analyses of a variety of foods for various nutrients, calories, fat, and cholesterol. It is somewhat complicated, but following the step by step guide will help most people through it.
• Nutrition Navigator
  From the School of Nutritional Sciences and Policy at Tufts University, this wonderful site provides reviews of nutritional Web sites for the general public, children, educators, health professionals, parents, those with special dietary needs, and women.
• NUTRITION.GOV
  This excellent site provides one-stop access to all federal government information on nutrition, including information on nutrition and healthy eating, food safety issues, food assistance programs, and research and grants.
• Weight-control Information Network (WIN)
  A service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases which produces, collects and disseminates information and materials on obesity, weight control and nutrition for both professionals and consumers.

ORGAN AND TISSUE TRANSPLANTS

• Organ Donation (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
  Offers readable consumer information on all aspects of organ and tissue donation, including news and frequently asked questions. The Web site for the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Transplantation is less consumer friendly, but provides information on activities of the division such as funding research and oversight of the nation's organ procurement system.
• TransWeb - Transplantation and Donation
  This site, from the University of Michigan, offers information for doctors and transplant patients on the latest medical research, related links, Q & A, and much more. Searchable.
• United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
  An excellent source for data on transplantation, patient information and links to related sources.

PARKINSON'S DISEASE

• American Parkinson Disease Association
  This site provides a good summary of the disease with publications and videos available for sale. There are also full text downloadable booklets, plus chapter locations and support groups.
• National Parkinson Foundation
  The site from this non-profit organization provides news and information about events, conferences, and symposia, and a range of electronic and print information (some in Spanish) helpful to both patients and caregivers.
• Parkinson's Web
  A valuable resource for patients, families and caregivers from Massachusetts General Hospital.

POISONING

• American Association of Poison Control Centers
  Includes access to the major poison information databases such as TOXNET, ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry), plus many others. Also includes poison prevention and education information, and a list of certified poison centers in the United States.

PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH

• Abortion Clinics Online
  Easy to search directory of abortion clinics by city and state.
• Childbirth.Org
  Information on all aspects of birth including Caesarian section, episiotomy, stories, labor, doulas and lots more.
• Interactive Pregnancy Calendar
  A detailed calendar of how your baby-to-be is developing on a day to day basis.
• National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health
  An organization which provides "national leadership to the maternal and child health community in three key areas--program development, policy analysis and education, and state of the art knowledge--to improve the health and well being of the nation's children and families." It includes a direct link to the Maternal and Child Health Library.
• Online Birth Center
  Excellent site for information on home birth, midwifery, breastfeeding and nutrition.
• Planned Parenthood Federation of America
  An excellent site for information on sexual and reproductive health, contraception, family planning services, sexually transmitted diseases, abortion, pro-choice advocacy and reproductive rights, plus addresses of Planned Parenthood affiliates and extensive links to related sources.

SKIN AND SKIN DISORDERS

• American Academy of Dermatology
  Contains information for the skin care professional, but also includes a "Find a Dermatologist" section and the full text of patient education brochures on many skin care related topics in the Public Resource Center section.
• National Psoriasis Foundation
  Searchable information and news for the consumer.
• SKINCAREPHYSICIANS.com
  A site developed by the American Academy of Dermatology in conjunction with industry and the medical community which provides patients with "up-to-date information on treatment and management of skin diseases."

SLEEP

• National Sleep Foundation
  A non-profit organization which supports sleep-related education, research and advocacy. The site provides extensive information on the various sleep disorders and many helpful online publications.
• Sleep Medicine Home Page
  A collection of sleep-related sites--professional groups, sleep research centers, support groups, alphabetical list of sleep-related disorders with definitions and treatments, etc.
• SleepNet
  Good source for information about the subject, links to related sites and contacts for help with sleep problems.

STATISTICS

• CDC Wonder Data Sets
  From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this site offers online and ordering access to CDC reports, guidelines and public health data.
• Healthcare Financing Administration Data and Statistics
  This site provides statistics on Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, and other aspects of health care overseen by HFCA. Most of the files are large and detailed and difficult for the consumer to read; however, the data included would be difficult to find elsewhere. The ResDAC (Research Data Assistance Center) provides free assistance to academic and non-profit researchers. A toll-free help desk telephone number is given.
• Healthy New Jersey
  A great site for New Jersey statistics of all kinds.
• Kids Count
  The Anne E. Casey Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Baltimore which has spent 50 years working to improve the lives of disadvantaged children, has created this site. It is a compilation of indicators of child well-being from the 2000 census and is a good resource for statistics on children.
• MapStats
  This site allows the user to retrieve, by state or county, statistics on a wide variety of types, including superfund sites, births, deaths and crime.
• National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems
  This is a public health statistics gathering advocacy site, and, as such, does not actually provide statistics. It does link users to state health statistical sources, and the place in each state to send for vital records.
• National Center for Health Statistics
  The first place to go for health care statistics of all types. Searchable.
• New Jersey Center for Health Statistics
  From the N.J. Department of Health and Senior Services, this organization collects, researches, analyzes and disseminates New Jersey health data and information. The latest year available is 1999.
• Population Reference Bureau

           A site which provides information on U.S. and international population trends and their implications. It provides statistics on marriage, population            estimates, education, ethnicity, children, older population, fertility, labor force, mortality and employment.

• SEER Study of Cancer Statistics
  SEER stands for the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute which is "the most authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival in the United States."
• State Health Facts Online

           This site, provided by the Kaiser Family Foundation, gives easily accessible facts for each state. "Health Status" includes the usual birth and 

           mortality figures, and also more detailed statistics, such as teen births by race, deaths categorized by cause, etc. Statistics are also given for

           health insurance, health costs, women and minority health and more.

• Statistical Information on Older Persons
  A site developed by the Administration on Aging which provides all kinds of statistics on the aging population.

STROKE

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
  This site provides scientific but accessible material on the neurological implications of numerous diseases in addition to stroke.
• National Stroke Association
  This non-profit organization focuses on stroke prevention and treatment, rehabilitation, research and support for stroke survivors and their families. It includes stroke facts, a risk factors quiz, a guide to consumer and professional materials available from them, and a regional list of stroke centers and support groups.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

• Alcoholics Anonymous
  The official Web site for this well known organization is in English, French and Spanish.
• Join Together Online
  A national resource for communities working to reduce substance abuse and gun violence, sponsored by the Boston University School of Public Health. Emphasis is on current news on the topics, legal issues, advocacy, sources of funding, etc.
• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)
  A voluntary health organization, founded in 1944, which has a nationwide network of affiliates. It "advocates prevention, intervention, research and treatment and is dedicated to ridding the disease of its stigma and its sufferers from their denial and shame." This site concentrates on providing information about substance abuse and its prevention and treatment.
• National Inhalant Prevention Coalition
  A good source of information on this less well known type of substance abuse.
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NICAAA)
  A searchable site which includes information on the organization, full text of their publications, and links to related sites. The Institute is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
  A searchable site which includes information on the organization, full text of their publications, and links to related sites. The Institute is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
• Partnership for a Drug Free America
  An excellent source of factual information on a wide variety of addictive and illegal drugs. Also includes parent resources and frequently asked questions.
• Prevention Online
  A network of government resources, brochures, organizations, news, trends and definitions on substance abuse from the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
• QuitNet
  A reliable site for resources for quitting smoking from the Boston University School of Public Health.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
  Their mission is to "assure that quality substance abuse and mental health services are available to the people who need them and to ensure that prevention and treatment knowledge is used more effectively in the general health care system." The site includes publications, reports, statistical information, managed care initiatives for substance abuse care, and more. It is a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

TRAVEL HEALTH INFORMATION

• International Travelers Clinic
  From the Medical College of Winconsin.
• Travel Health Information from the Centers for Disease Control
• Shoreland's Travel Health Online
• U.S. Department of State Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets

VISION AND VISION IMPAIRMENT

• American Academy of Ophthalmology
  Lots of information and related links for consumers, patients and health professionals. Searchable, and also includes a geographical ophthalmologist finder.
• The Blindness Resource Center
  This site from the New York Institute of Special Education is a clear and comprehensive guide to Internet and other resources on blindness, Braille, the deaf-blind, eye conditions, national and international organizations, research, helpful technology and more.
• The Glaucoma Foundation
• Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind
  Information on how to obtain a guide dog, how they are trained, volunteer opportunities, the history of the organization, and more.
• Prevent Blindness America
  Good simple eye information from the "nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness." Lists local affiliates.
• Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)
  Lots of good information and international links for the visually impaired, including information on how to translate text files into Braille.