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Vision, mission, goals, and history

Our vision

All women and girls achieve the best possible health.

Our mission

Provide national leadership and coordination to improve the health of women and girls through policy, education, and innovative programs.

Our goals

  • Inform and influence policies
  • Educate the public
  • Educate health professionals
  • Support innovative programs

Our history

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office on Women's Health (OWH) was established in 1991 to improve the health of U.S. women by advancing and coordinating a comprehensive women's health agenda. During the early 1990s, OWH focused on developing women's health as a specialized issue for government action and attention alongside efforts by partner organizations. These issues included research, health care prevention and service delivery, public and health care professional education, and career advancement for women in health and scientific careers.

Thanks to OWH's leadership, women's health is now firmly rooted in the national health landscape and many great achievements have been made in women's health. Today, OWH focuses on emerging women's health priorities to meet the needs of women and girls. Working collaboratively with federal agencies and partners, OWH supports a variety of campaigns, programs, and policies around health disparities, violence against women, HIV and AIDS, trauma-informed care, health across the lifespan, and the provision of health care.