In 1984, the Rockland County Commission on Women’s Issues was created by the Rockland County Legislature to ensure that women’s issues and perspectives are considered in the formation of public policies. As one of its first actions, the Commission formed the Health Issues Subcommittee to identify and ameliorate pressing health issues that face women in Rockland County. The Commission, now known as the Legislature's Special Committee, has taken a leading role in women's health. Over its history, the subcommittee’s public hearings and recommendations paved the way for uninsured and under-insured women to get gynecological care in Rockland; identified the need for drug treatment programs for women with children, spotlighted the growing prevalence of HIV/AIDS in young women, ages 14-24; worked with the American Cancer Society on breast health outreach; and more. This is government at its best: working with volunteers to enhance the health and quality of life of our citizens.

 In 1995, in an effort to establish priorities and develop realistic goals, the Subcommittee Chairs designed and distributed a survey to over eighty (80) subcommittee members. Members were asked to rate the importance of various health issues, and indicate their level of interest in working on each topic. Topics included teenage sexuality and pregnancy, loss of health insurance, health promotion/illness prevention, medical research, school based health clinics, managed care, breast cancer, pockets of high cancer incidence, parenting skills and health care reform. Survey results indicated that breast cancer was the leading topic of perceived importance and interest to this wide range of women’s health professionals and advocates. The committee worked for over a year to plan its "Good News Conference", Breast Cancer: What Every Woman Should Know. Two expert guest speakers and a distinguished panel of local providers set the stage for an event that served over 500 participants.

 The Committee worked with four co-sponsors, American Cancer Society, Rockland County Unit; Rockland Community College; Good Samaritan Hospital; and Nyack Hospital. The expertise and resources of these fine institutions resulted in a conference that was professional, yet designed to meet the needs of the general public. The conference was well-received and highly acclaimed, as evidenced by the conference evaluations, and provided the cornerstone to an ongoing effort by these and other institutions to work towards providing services, resources, and support to prevent and treat breast cancer in Rockland County.

Marianne Furedi, R.N.

Lisa Lieberman, Ph.D.

Donna Pauldine, M.A.

 Conference Planning Committee:

Suzanne Barckley

Eve Borzon

Shelley Burns

Marianne Furedi

Sandy Gitlin

Basia Hammerstein

Betty Hedges

Vencine Kelly

Anita Kobre

Nohra M. Leff

Sande Lefkowitz

Lisa Lieberman

Helen Lipovsky

Debra Longberg

Connie Maietta

Clair McEvoy

Iris Velia Ortiz

Elaine Padilla

Donna Pauldine

Aileen Raisman

Margery Rothenberg

Sylvia Smith

Peggy Trotta

Dorothy Whitten

Liz Van Wynen

Report prepared by Dr. Lisa Lieberman,

Co-Chair, Health Issues Subcommittee