The Minnesota Women’s Cervical Cancer Screening Resources Database is up and running at http://www.healthymnwomen.org/ccscs/index.html.  A link to the site will be available from http://www.mncancerresources.org. This database allows women to search by zip code or city for clinics and programs offering free or low cost pap smears.  The site also offers descriptions of the programs including eligibility requirements and services offered in addition to pap smears. These programs are the SAGE program, MDH Colposcopy Program, Family Planning Special Projects Grant, Title X, Minnesota Family Planning Program, and Federally Qualified Health Centers.

The idea for the database came about during early discussions of the Cervical Cancer Screening Project Team of the Minnesota Cancer Alliance. Members discussed the variety of different programs available to women, all with different eligibility requirements  Mary Winnett MD, MPH -  formerly of the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Division of the Minnesota Dept of Health (MDH) – lead the effort to create the database.  Erin Hedican, a student at the University of Minnesota, volunteered many hours putting together the database.  Several MDH staff also made significant contributions to the effort: Curtis Fraser converted the database to a form usable on line, Chad Kielas built the web site, and Vicky Townsend double-checked the information for accuracy and will be in charge of maintaining the information in the database.

If you have any other questions or suggestions please contact Vicky Townsend at 651-201-3602 or vicky.townsend@health.state.mn.us.