Journey of Hearts

Those resources selected are ones with good reliable information, from legitimate, reputable sources. In particular we have looked for comprehensive resources and those with good references lists for a particular area of interest, with the eye for both the general public and the medical profession. In some cases, those who have lived the loss are the best experts on the subject, so these sites have also been included.

The links and information resources are provided to allow people to obtain useful and more accurate information on a variety of subjects, to help them understand their loss. Disclaimer.

Since the topic of loss is so vast the listing of these resources is also vast and will be expanding as we discover more resources to include. If you know of a good resource (or discover a broken link) to be included on our listing please email us at:

Scleroderma

Scleroderma Foundation  (800) 722-HOPE [HELP LINE]
(United Scleroderma Foundation and Scleroderma Federation Unite)
89 Newbury Street Ste 201 Danvers, MA 01923
http://www.scleroderma.org/

Center For Disease Control, Division of STD Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30333
http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/dstdp.html
Women's Health Information Center
from JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)
Information on everything from Condom use to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and Vaginitis.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases http://www.ama-assn.org/std
American Social Health Association
ASHA is a nonprofit ogranization dedicated to the prevention and control of all sexually transmitted diseases. http://www.sunsite.unc.edu/ASHA/
Operates four hotlines:
National AIDS Hotline
English (24 hours, 7 days)                                             1-800-342-2437
Spanish (8 A.M. - 2 A.M. Eastern Time, 7 days)            1-800-344-7432
TTY Services for the Deaf
M-F, 10 A.M. - 10 P.M., Eastern Time                  1-800-243-7889
National STD Hotline
M-F,  8 A.M. - 11 P.M., Eastern Time                           1-800-227-8922
National Herpes Hotline
M-F,  8 A.M. - 7 P.M., Eastern Time                            1-800-361-8488
National Immunization Information Hotline
English M-F,  8 A.M. - 11 P.M., Eastern Time              1-800-232-2522
Spanish M-F,  8 A.M. - 11 P.M., Eastern Time              1-800-232-0233
Fact Sheet on a variety of STD's  Chlamydia, Herpes, Syphilis
http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/fact_sheets_home.htm

National Sjogren's Syndrome Association
5815 N. Black Canyon Hwy Ste 103 Phoenix, AZ 85015-2200
http://www.sjogrens.org/

American Heart Association/ Stroke Connection (800) 553-6321
General Information: http://www.amhrt.org
Stroke Information http://www.amhrt.org/catalog/Stroke_catpage30.html
Stroke Connection http://www.amhrt.org/Stroke/Recovery/strkecon.html
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD 20892
NINDS, an agency of the U.S. Federal Government and a component of the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Public Health Service, is a lead agency for the Congressionally designated Decade of the Brain, and the leading supporter of biomedical research on disorders of the brain and nervous system.
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

 Stuttering Foundation of America (SFA)  (800) 992-9392
3100 Walnut Grove Road, Suite 603, P.O. Box 11749, Memphis, TN 38111-0749
The Stuttering Foundation of America (SFA), the first non-profit, charitable association in the world to concern itself with the prevention and improved treatment of stuttering, has distributed over three million publications to the public and professionals. This web site has information for those who stutter and their families as well as professionals.
http://www.stuttersfa.org/
National Stuttering Project 1-800-364-1677
5100 East La Palma, Suite #208, Anaheim Hills, CA 92807
 National Stuttering Project was founded in 1977 so that those people afflicted with chronic stuttering disorder would know and experience the fact that they are not alone in facing this challenge.
http://members.aol.com/nsphome/index.html
The Stuttering Homepage
This WWW site is dedicated to providing information about stuttering. With world-wide information and links.
http://www.mankato.msus.edu/dept/comdis/kuster/stutter.html

Web of Addictions
The Web of Addictions is dedicated to providing accurate information about alcohol and other drug addictions. The site provides a resource for teachers, students and others who needed factual information about abused drugs.
http://www.well.com/user/woa
Join Together   617-437-1500
441 Stuart Street Boston, MA 02116
Join Together is a national resource center linking people through information and strategies to encourage community action to prevent and reduce the use of illicit drugs, excessive alcohol, tobacco and gun violence.
http://www.jointogether.org
Partnership for a Drug-Free America
Partnership's mission is to reduce demand for illegal drugs by changing public attitudes about drugs --to "denormalize" drug use, by making use less glamorous and less acceptable. Offers the most complete and accurate compilation of information about drugs on the Web including the slang names of drugs, information on different drugs and tips on how to talk to your kids about drugs. http://www.drugfreeamerica.org/

Suicide
suicide @ rochford.org
Suicide information and education. Frequently asked questions, warning signs, crisis resources, articles and statistics about suicide. Also features a discussion board, guestbook, mailing list and reviews of related sites. Updated monthly.
http://www.rochford.org/suicide/
SAMARITANS ON-LINE
The Samaritans is a UK charity, founded in 1953, which exists to provide confidential emotional support to any person who is suicidal or despairing; and to increase public awareness of issues around suicide and depression. This service is provided 24 hours every day by trained volunteers, and relies upon public donations.
This internet site has been designed to allow access to as many users as possible.
http://www.samaritans.org/
THE SAMARITANS ON-LINE (Mental Health Net, U.S. Mirror Site)
http://www.cmhc.com/samaritans/
National Youth Crisis Hotline 800-448-4663

Prevention
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)  (888) 333-AFSP

120 Wall St., 22nd Floor, New York, N.Y. 10005
A National, not-for-profit organization dedicated to funding research into suicide prevention and providing educational programs for physicians, mental health providers, survivors and the public.
http://www.afsp.org
Contains a Listing of Suicide Support Groups around the Country
http://www.afsp.org/support/group/groups.htm
San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP)
Information available on Suicide Prevention, facts and Warning signs
http://www.sfsuicide.org/
Warning Signs, Things to watch for when assessing potential risk
http://www.sfsuicide.org/plaid.html
The American Suicide Foundation 1-800-531-4477
1045 Park Ave New York, NY  10028
 
The American Association of Suicidology 202) 237-2280
4201 Connecticut Ave., NW  Suite 310 Washington, DC 20008
The American Association of Suicidology, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the understanding and prevention of suicide. Their Mission is to Understand and Prevent Suicide as a Means of Promoting Human Well-Being The site is designed as a resource for anyone concerned about suicide, including AAS members, suicide researchers, therapists, prevention specialists, survivors of suicide, and people who are themselves in crisis.
Publishes a quarterly newsletter, Surviving Suicide http://www.cyberpsych.org/aas/index.html
Provides a listing for Crisis Centers within the U.S and Canada http://www.cyberpsych.org/aas/aascris.htm
SA\VE   - Suicide Awareness \ Voices of Education   Phone (612) 946-7998
P.O. Box 24507 Minneapolis, MN 55424-0507
The Mission of SA\VE is to educate the public about suidice and to speak for the suicide survivors. A variety of information, phamplets available.
http://www.save.org/
National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association (NDMDA)
730 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL. 60610  (800) 82-NDMDA
General Information:  http://www.ndmda.org/
Suicide Section Including sections on "If You Suspect Someone You Care About Is Considering Suicide" http://www.ndmda.org/suicide.htm
National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
General Information on Depression http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/ptdep.htm

Survivors
1000 Deaths - for those who are left behind.
The person who completes suicide dies once. Those left behind die a thousand deaths, trying to relive those terrible moments and understand... Why?
http://www.1000deaths.com/
Survivors of Suicide (S.O.S.)
Self-help resources, chat rooms and message board for families and friends of suicide victims.
The purpose of the Survivors Of Suicide web site is to help those who have lost a loved one to suicide resolve their grief and pain in their own personal way.
http://thewebpager.com/sos
To locate the nearest S.O.S. support group http://www.afsp.org/support/group/sosgroup.htm

S.A.V.E -- Survivors and Victims Empowered
Survivors and Victims Empowered (SAVE), a non-profit organization created to
help prevent the criminal neglect and physical, emotional and sexual abuse of children and to help adult survivors of childhood traumas.
http://child.cornell.edu/SAVE/home.html
Victim-Assistance Online
Victim-Assistance Online, a resource for victim-assistance providers, related professionals and others interested in helping people in tragic circumstances.
The goals, first to reduce the psychological shock and trauma a survivor of crime or tragedy can suffer by lending emotional and practical support immediately at the crisis scene or shortly thereafter.
Second to help the survivor after the initial crisis with emotional support, counseling, advocacy, referral to local social service agencies, and (where possible) information on such things as: the status of the investigation; the status of the accused (arrested, released, conditions of release); the court system and their rights within it; safety and security, and much more.
http://www.vaonline.org
Cancer Support for the Heart and Soul - Keeping the Faith
"Keepin' the Faith!" is a website designed to help cancer patients, survitors, friends or loved ones to cope with the emotional and spiritual changes that occur in the battle with cancer. The site has over one hundred pages of cancer survivor's stories, practical advice, cancer awareness and activism material, prayers for cancer patients and more. A roster of over 40 cancer support volunteers who have "been there" are ready to provide those new to cancer with one to one email support. An online prayer list and crisis prayer team are available to lend spiritual support.
http://www.ktf.org

The Testicular Cancer Resource Center
This website boasts over 700 links to information on Testicular Cancer as well as resources and information on treatment options, fertility questions, interviews with survivors. A good resource for a difficult topic.
http://www.acor.org/TCRC/
National Cancer Institute  1-800-4-CANCER
Office of Cancer Communications  31 Center Drive, MSC 2580 Bethesda, MD 20892-2580
Information available from the National Cancer Institute with numbers to call for helpful phamplets.
http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/cancernet/201121.html

The Thyroid Foundation of America, Inc. (800) 832-8321
Ruth Sleeper Hall, RSL 350   40 Parkman Street  Boston, MA  02114-2698
http://www.tfaweb.org/pub/tfa

National Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc.  718-224-2999
42-40 Bell Boulevard Bayside, New York 11361-2820
TSA is a national non-profit voluntary health organization with 54 chapters in the USA and over 30 contacts in other countries. Members include people with TS, their relatives and other interested, concerned supporters. Website is maintained by the Massachusetts General Hospital's Dept. of Neurology. With links to other National and International Chapters.
http://tsa.mgh.harvard.edu/

Transplantation Web
http://www.transweb.org
Coalition on Donation 1-800-355-SHARE for free brochure
1100 Boulders Parkway, Suite 500 Richmond, Virginia 23225-8770
Advertising Council, the Coalition on Donation launched the first multi-media national public education campaign on organ and tissue donation. As a national initiative, this project offers a professional, coordinated, consistent visual image and message which summons the public to action. At its core, the effort sets out to increase the overall number of organ and tissue donors.
http://www.shareyourlife.org/
Organ Donation
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources, Health Resources Services Administration's organ donation site. From this site you can download and sign a donor card.
http://www.organdonor.gov
National Transplant Society   312-701-0700 · Fax: 312-701-0750
318 W. Adams, Suite 1700 · Chicago, IL 60606
The mission is to substantially increase the availability of lifesaving organs in the near term, and to serve as the advocate and representative of the American people on issues relating to organ donation and transplantation.
http://www.organdonor.org/
United Network for Organ Sharing
To advance organ availability and transplantation by uniting and supporting its communities for the benefit of patients through education, technology and policy development.
http://www.unos.org/
To locate the Organ Procurement Organization in your area:
http://www.transweb.org/donation_folder/opo_image_map/usopomap.htm
James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness (310) 441-4906
10573 West Pico Boulevard # 214 Los Angeles, CA  90064
The James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness was established by James Redford following his 1993 liver trahsplant. The JRI is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to producing and distrubuting high-quality films, develop educational support materials and create an outreach program to educate the public about the issues of organ and tissue donation and help build the base of potential organ donors.
http://www.jrifilms.org

Center For Disease Control, Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (404) 639-3311
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30333
The mission of the Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE) is to provide leadership in preventing, controlling, and eventually eliminating tuberculosis (TB) from the United States, in collaboration with partners at the community, state, and international levels.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/tb/dtbe.html

American Urological Association, Inc.
General Information: http://www.auanet.org
Search http://www.auanet.org/search/
American Foundation for Urologic Disease  (410) 468-1800
1128 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201
http://www.access.digex.net/~afud/

Victim-Assistance Online
Victim-Assistance Online, a resource for victim-assistance providers, related professionals and others interested in helping people in tragic circumstances.
The goals, first to reduce the psychological shock and trauma a survivor of crime or tragedy can suffer by lending emotional and practical support immediately at the crisis scene or shortly thereafter.
Second to help the survivor after the initial crisis with emotional support, counseling, advocacy, referral to local social service agencies, and (where possible) information on such things as: the status of the investigation; the status of the accused (arrested, released, conditions of release); the court system and their rights within it; safety and security, and much more.
http://www.vaonline.org
The National Organization for Victim Assistance
The National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) is a private, non-profit, umbrella organization working on behalf of victims of crime and disaster. NOVA is guided by four purposes: to serve as the national advocate in support of victim rights and services; to provide direct services to victims; to be an educational resource and support to victim assistance professionals; and to be of service to its members.
http://www.access.digex.net/~nova/
Special Section on "The Crisis Reaction"
http://www.access.digex.net/~nova/reaction.htm
Special Section on "Why Did This Happen to Me?"
http://www.access.digex.net/~nova/why.htm
Victims of Crime
The Victims of Crime Program can help innocent victims of certain crimes and eligible family members when they have no other means of paying for crime-related income or medical losses. Program assistance is obtained by filing an application with the California State Board of Control which administers the Program. A variety of other links to resources available.
http://www.boc.cahwnet.gov/Victims.htm
American Red Cross
Resources available on Armed Forces Emergency Services, Biomedical Services, Disaster Services, Health and Safety Services,  International Services, Youth Involvement and Volunteering
http://www.redcross.org/
Justice for Murder Victims
Justice for Murder Victims is a service of VOCAL (the Catina Rose Victims of Crime Assistance League) Foundation. It was founded in 1979 by Harriet Salarno after the murder of her daughter. The group was organized with three premises:
1. To help survivors cope with the tremendous grief.
2. To ensure that the rights of victims are not ignored within the judicial system
3. To bring about change that would make a balanced justice system.
http://www.vocal-jmv.org/index.html

Join Together  617-437-1500
441 Stuart Street Boston, MA 02116
Join Together is a national resource center linking people through information and strategies to encourage community action to prevent and reduce the use of illicit drugs, excessive alcohol, tobacco and gun violence.
http://www.jointogether.org
Information on Gun Violence http://www.jointogether.org/gv/
The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children, Inc.  1-888-818-POMC
100 East Eight St., B-41 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children, Inc. (POMC) is the only national self-help organization dedicated solely to the aftermath and prevention of murder. Parents of Murdered Children, Inc. makes the difference through ongoing emotional support, education, prevention, advocacy and awareness.
http://www.pomc.com/index.html
See Victim-Assistance Above

Widowed Persons Service AARP American Association of Retired Persons  (202) 434-2260
601 E. Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20049
Widowed Persons Service Help for the newly widowed
http://seniors-site.com/widow/wps.html
Information for subscribing to Grief-Widows provides a support forum for widows and alt.support.grief both newsgroups.
http://www.aarp.org/
WidowNet
WidowNet, an information and self-help resource for, and by, widows and widowers. Topics covered include grief, bereavement, recovery, and other information helpful to people, of all ages, religious backgrounds and sexual orientations, who have suffered the death of a spouse or life partner. Created by a widower in the aftermath of losing his wife.
http://www.fortnet.org/WidowNet/index.html
Grief Recovery Online (founded by) Widows & Widowers
GROWW was founded by a group of widows and widowers who understand that when a spouse dies, our husband or wife, was also a son or a daughter, an aunt or an uncle, a brother or a sister, a grandmother or a grandfather, a mother or a father and finally a friend. The primary function and expertise of GROWW is the development of bereavement support groups online in the format of “chat rooms," and promotes Grief Recovery for ALL Bereaved.
http://www.groww.com/
Seattle Widowed Young Persons' Support Site
This Site provides information on Grief Support Services in the Seattle Area. The support is specifically geared to younger men and women who are dealing with grief and non-end-of-life issues, who have lost a spouse or partner. Additionally provides information for on-going large and small support groups and on-line friends and support. (Partially under construction)
http://www.seattlewidowed.com/

American Medical Women's Association's Health Topics
This site by the American Medical Women's Association's provides information about a variety of different medical issues of interest to women. The information provided on this site as a public service and is not intended to be a substitute for medical care or consultation with your physician.
http://www.amwa-doc.org/healthtopics/healthlist.html
Women's Health Information Center
from JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)
General Information http://www.ama-assn.org/special/womh/womh.htm
Treatment Center features the most up-to-date, comprehensive quidelines for contraceptive use, including summaries of practice and counseling guidelines
Education and Support Center has a variety of resources and patient education materials that are useful to both patients and providers.
Contraception Information http://www.ama-assn.org/contraception
Sexually Transmitted Diseases http://www.ama-assn.org/std
OBGYN.net The Obstetrics and Gynecology Network
"The Universe of Women's Health" A physician reviewed service offering medical professionals and women and industry information on  three sections: Medical Professionals, Medical Industry and Women & Women's Health.
http://www.obgyn.net/
Women's Health Interactive
A variety of featured topics including sections on Gynecologic Health, The Infertility Center and Personal Development Center. Interesting graphics.
http://www.womens-health.com/
American Heart Association
Take Wellness to Heart: What Women need to know about Heart Disease and Stroke. http://women.americanheart.org/
Women's Focus
Reproduction and Women's Health-Related Science Sites from the University of Pennsylvania Health System. General Information for Medical Links and resources.
http://www.med.upenn.edu/~crrwh/ScientificSites.html

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse Society (WOCN)  888 224-WOCN Toll-free
1550 South Coast Highway, Suite #201 Laguna Beach, CA 92651
WOCN, an association of ET nurses, is a professional nursing society which supports its members by promoting educational, clinical, and research opportunities, to advance the practice and guide the delivery of expert health care to individuals with wounds, ostomies and incontinence.
http://www.wocn.org