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Select information center and clearinghouse information from the keyword or
alphabetical lists below.
A National ADOPTION Information Clearinghouse The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC) provides professionals and the general public with easily accessible information on all aspects of adoption, including infant and intercountry adoption and the adoption of children with special needs. NAIC maintains an adoption literature database, a database of adoption experts, listings of adoption agencies, crisis pregnancy centers, and other adoption-related services, as well as excerpts of State and Federal laws on adoption. Ultimately, NAIC’s goal is to strengthen adoptive family life. NAIC does not place children for adoption or provide counseling. It does, however, make referrals for such services. NAIC is funded by the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). National AGING Information and
Referral Support Center The National Aging Information and Referral Support Center is designed to enhance the capacity of aging information and referral/assistance (I&R/A) systems to provide the information, counseling, decision supports, and advocacy needed to secure services and benefits for an ever-growing and increasingly diverse population of older persons and caregivers. Major funding for the center is provided by the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA). The center provides a full range of assistance at the state and local levels on I&R/A systems design and management, quality improvements in I&R/A service delivery, and professionalism and training of the aging I&R/A workforce. Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). National Institute on AGING Information
Center The National Institute on Aging Information Center provides publications on health topics of interest to older adults, doctors, nurses, social activities directors, health educators, and the public. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). U.S. Department of AGRICULTURE Extension Service SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse
for ALCOHOL and DRUG INFORMATION SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) is sponsored by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. NCADI gathers and disseminates information on alcohol and other drug-related subjects, including tobacco. Services include subject searches, provision of statistics and other information, and publications distribution. NCADI operates the Regional Alcohol and Drug Awareness Resource Network, a nationwide linkage of alcohol and other drug information centers. It also maintains a library that is open to the public. Hours of operation: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. National Center for Complementary
and ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE Information Clearinghouse
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) Information Clearinghouse operates a toll-free telephone service. Information Specialists search NCCAM databases for scientific information on CAM therapies or conditions and can answer inquiries in English and Spanish. The Fax-on-Demand service, with factsheets and other information, is also available through the toll-free number. NCCAM services and materials are provided at no cost. The clearinghouse does not provide medical referrals, medical advice, or recommendations for specific CAM therapies. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE Education
and Referral Center Sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, the Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center provides information and publications on Alzheimer’s disease to health and service professionals, patients and their families, caregivers, and the public. Online database lists clinical trials currently seeking qualified participants. Annual research report is available free on request. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time). National Institute of ARTHRITIS
and MUSCULOSKELETAL and SKIN DISEASES Information Clearinghouse
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Information Clearinghouse provides publications and information sources designed to help patients and health professionals identify educational materials concerning arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases. Personal information requests from patients are referred to appropriate organizations for additional information. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). ABLEDATA (ASSISTIVE DEVICES, REHABILITATION) The ABLEDATA project provides information resources on assistive devices and rehabilitation equipment products for people with disabilities, including the ABLEDATA database of product information. The database includes detailed information on products for use in all aspects of independent living, including personal care, transportation, communication, and recreation. Custom searches provide specific information on products, including generic and brand names, description, manufacturer, availability, and cost. ABLEDATA can also be searched independently through the Internet. ABLEDATA is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). National AUDIOVISUAL Center at
National Technical Information Service The National Audiovisual Center (NAC) at National Technical Information Service is the central source for purchasing or renting the more than 9,000 federally produced multimedia programs available to the public. Requests for information may be made via telephone, fax, e-mail, or by visiting the website. Catalogs are provided free of charge or searching may be done on the website. Several of the catalogs cover health-related topics, such as alcohol and drug abuse, emergency medical services, occupational safety and health, medicine, nursing, and health regulations. Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). B National Library Service for the BLIND
and Physically Handicapped In cooperation with a network of 57 regional and 75 subregional libraries, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress provides a free library service to any resident of the United States or American citizen living abroad who is unable to read or use standard printed materials because of visual or physical disabilities. Delivers recorded and Braille books and magazines to eligible readers. Specially designed phonographs and cassette players are available for loan. A list of participating libraries is available in print and online. Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). Office of BOATING SAFETY The Office of Boating Safety provides safety information to recreational boaters; assists the public in finding boating education classes; answers technical questions; and distributes literature on boating safety, Federal laws, and the prevention of recreational boating casualties. Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). C CANCER Information Service
The Cancer Information Service (CIS) provides information about cancer and cancer-related resources to patients, the public, and health professionals. Inquiries are handled by trained Information Specialists and Spanish-speaking staff members are available. CIS distributes free publications from the National Cancer Institute. Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). National Clearinghouse on CHILD ABUSE and
Neglect Information
The National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information connects professionals and concerned citizens to practical, timely and essential information on programs, research, legislation, and statistics to promote the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families. The clearinghouse is a service of the Children’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). National CHILD CARE Information Center
The National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) is a national clearinghouse and technical assistance center linking parents, providers, policy-makers, researchers, and the public to early child care and education information through partnering with the Child Care Bureau and Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Regional Offices; question and answer services; the NCCIC Online Library and Web site; technical assistance and training to States; conference and meeting support; and publications. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). National Institute of CHILD HEALTH
and Human Development Information Resource Center
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Information Resource Center (NICHD IRC) provides information on health issues and publications related to NICHD research. NICHD supports and conducts research on the reproductive, neurobiologic, developmental, and behavioral processes related to the health of children, adults, families, and populations. NICHD also sponsors the “Back to Sleep” campaign, designed to educate families and caregivers about putting healthy babies on their backs to sleep to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and the “Milk Matters” calcium education campaign, designed to teach parents, children, and health professionals about the importance of calcium consumption for children and teens. The NICHD IRC offers trained Information Specialists with access to information and referral services on topics related to the mission of NICHD. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). Federal CITIZEN INFORMATION Center
The Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) is a small government agency, established in 1970, that helps other Federal agencies and departments develop, promote, and distribute consumer information to the public. The quarterly Consumer Information Catalog lists more than 200 free or low-cost booklets on a variety of topics. FCIC's Web site features these publications, and many more, that visitors can view, print out, or download for free. It also features consumer news and tips and updates from various Federal agencies. FCIC's National Contact Center serves as a single point of contact for individuals with questions about Federal agencies, programs, and services. The specially trained staff can answer questions in English and Spanish about all aspects of the Federal Government or direct callers to an appropriate contact. Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). National CRIMINAL JUSTICE Reference
Service The National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) was established in 1972 as a centralized information service for criminal justice practitioners and researchers. NCJRS provides reference services; distributes publications of the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs; acquires publications for its collection; and provides other services, such as document loan and information dissemination, via the Internet. A computerized database includes abstracts of all materials in the NCJRS collection. (The database is available on CD-ROM and on DIALOG.) Health issues covered by NCJRS include violence prevention; mental illness and crime; victimization; human development and criminal behavior; family violence and child abuse; health care fraud; substance abuse and treatment; and correctional health care, including AIDS and tuberculosis. Hours of operation: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time). D DB-LINK (DEAF BLINDNESS) DB-LINK, the National Information Clearinghouse on Children
Who Are Deaf-Blind, identifies, coordinates, and disseminates
information related to children and youth who are deaf-blind.
Parents, service providers, administrators, and others
interested in services are invited to contact DB-LINK for
information. DB-LINK is a collaborative effort of the Helen
Keller National Center, Perkins School for the Blind, and
Teaching Research of Western Oregon University. DB-LINK
is a cosponsor of the publication Deaf-Blind Perspectives.
Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
(Eastern time, except Federal holidays); voicemail 24 hours
a day. National Institute on DEAFNESS
and Other COMMUNICATION DISORDERS Information Clearinghouse
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) Information Clearinghouse collects and disseminates information on hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language for health professionals, patients, people in industry, and the public. NIDCD maintains a database of references to brochures, books, articles, factsheets, organizations, and educational materials, which is a subfile of the Combined Health Information Database (CHID). It also develops publications, including directories, factsheets, brochures, information packets, and newsletters. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). National DIABETES Information
Clearinghouse The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) is an information and referral service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, one of the National Institutes of Health. The clearinghouse responds to written, telephone, and e-mail inquiries; develops and distributes publications about diabetes; and provides referrals to diabetes organizations, including support groups. NDIC maintains a database of patient and professional education materials from which literature searches are generated. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). National DIGESTIVE DISEASES Information
Clearinghouse The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) is an information and referral service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, one of the National Institutes of Health. A central information resource on the prevention and management of digestive diseases, the clearinghouse responds to written inquiries, develops and distributes publications about digestive diseases, and provides referrals to digestive disease organizations, including support groups. NDDIC maintains a database of patient and professional education materials from which literature searches are generated. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). National Dissemination Center
for Children with DISABILITIES The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (formally the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities) is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The center serves as a central source of information on: disabilities in children and youth; programs and services for infants, children, and youth with disabilities; IDEA, the Nation's special education law; No Child Left Behind (as it relates to children with disabilities); and research-based information on effective educational practices. All information and services are provided free of charge. Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). Clearinghouse on DISABILITY Information The clearinghouse provides information to people with disabilities, or anyone requesting information, by doing research and providing documents in response to inquiries. Information provided includes areas of federal funding for disability-related programs. Clearinghouse staff is trained to refer requests to other sources of disability-related information, if necessary. Information provided may be useful to individuals with disabilities, their families, schools and universities, teacher’s and/or school administrators, and organizations who have persons with disabilities as clients. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). National Center for the Dissemination of
DISABILITY Research Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), the National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR) is a pilot project designed to help NIDRR-funded researchers publicize the results of their research. NCDDR achieves its goals through use of effective change strategies and by identifying and implementing a wide range of dissemination techniques, modes, and format (including electronic data, large print, Braille, audio and video, other languages) identified by users. The project is housed at and administered by the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL). Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Central time, except Federal holidays). Safe DRINKING WATER Hotline The EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline is a service of the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water. It provides the general public, regulators, medical and water professionals, academia, and media, with information about drinking water and ground water programs authorized under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The hotline can also provide State and local contacts. Hours of operation: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). DRUG POLICY Information Clearinghouse
The clearinghouse supports the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, National Criminal Justice Reference Service. Staffed by subject matter specialists, the clearinghouse serves as a resource for statistics, research data, and referrals useful for developing and implementing drug policy. It disseminates publications; writes and produces documents on drug-related topics; coordinates with Federal, State, and local agencies to identify data resources; and maintains a reading room offering a broad range of policy-related materials. Hours of operation: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time). E EDUCATIONAL Resources Information
Center The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) is a digital library of education-related resources, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education. ERIC’s mission is to provide a comprehensive, easy-to-use, searchable, Internet-based bibliographic and full-text database of education research and information that also meets the requirements of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002. A fundamental goal for ERIC’s future is to increase the availability and quality of research and information for educators, researchers, and the general public. Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time). National Center on ELDER ABUSE The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) is a national resource for elder rights, law enforcement and legal professionals, public policy leaders, researchers, and the public. The center’s mission is to promote understanding, knowledge sharing, and action on elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). National ELDERCARE Locator
The National Eldercare Locator, a toll-free, operator-assisted service funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging, helps older adults and their caregivers find local services for seniors. The service links family members and the public to the information and referral (I&R) services of their state and area agencies on aging. These I&R programs can help you identify appropriate services in the area where you or your family members reside. Internet users can access the directory of information and referral/assistance service centers through a Web site maintained by the Center for Communication and Consumer Services in the U.S. Administration on Aging. The site is currently being expanded to include fact sheets on aging services and programs. Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays); voicemail 24 hours a day. ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Agency
Headquarters Library The library offers general information about the agency and refers inquiries to the appropriate regional or program office. The public may visit and use the library’s collection onsite at the library but materials do not circulate to non-EPA staff. The library does not distribute agency publications. Hours of operation: Public - 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday; EPA Staff - 8:00 a.m. –5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). F National Clearinghouse on FAMILIES
& YOUTH Links those interested in youth issues with the resources they need to better serve young people, families, and communities. It offers materials for distribution at conferences. The Web site includes searchable literature database and information on funding sources. Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time). FOOD and NUTRITION Information
Center The Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) is one of several information centers located at the National Agricultural Library, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service. FNIC provides information on food, human nutrition, and food safety. Resource lists, databases, and many other food- and nutrition-related links available on FNIC Web site. The FNIC collection includes books, manuals, journal articles, and audiovisual materials. Eligible patrons may borrow directly; others may borrow through interlibrary loan. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). Center for FOOD SAFETY and Applied
Nutrition Outreach and Information Center The goal of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition's (CFSAN) Outreach and Information Center (O&IC) is to enhance CFSAN's ability to provide and respond to the public's desire/demand for more useful, timely, and accurate information regarding its regulated products. O&IC was also established to enhance FDA's ability to provide accurate and meaningful information to the public about food safety. In addition to providing food safety information, O&IC provides assistance with other CFSAN issues including nutrition, dietary supplements, food labeling, cosmetics, food additives, and food biotechnology. Hours of operation: 24 hour a day, 7 days a week. G GENETIC and RARE
Diseases Information Center Two agencies of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD), launched the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) to provide free and immediate access to accurate, reliable information about genetic and rare diseases in English and Spanish. The information center provides assistance to patients and their families, health professionals, and other interested parties. It provides current, authoritative, and accurate information about specific conditions and illnesses from high-quality resources such as trusted and reliable Web sites, organizations, and institutions. Hours of operation: 12:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). National GUIDELINE Clearinghouse™
The National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC) is a public resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. NGC is an initiative of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NGC was originally created by AHRQ in partnership with the American Medical Association and the American Association of Health Plans (now America’s Health Insurance Plans [AHIP]). Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Eastern time, except Federal holidays). |
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