NICHD's Acting Director discusses the lifelong accomplishments of Dr. Dorothy Height
Alan Guttmacher, M.D., Acting Director of the NICHD, issued the following statement regarding events to commemorate the lifelong accomplishments of Dr. Dorothy Height.
Dr. Dorothy Height, the President Emerita of The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), had a lifelong commitment to improving the health of African American children and families. Dr. Dorothy Height forged a relationship with the NICHD to initiate a nationwide project informing African American children and parents about ways to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Dr. Height and Dr. Yvonne Maddox, Deputy Director of the NICHD, created a national structure within the NCNW to provide current, accurate, and appropriate health information to African American families about making healthy choices.
Working closely with Dr. Height and Dr. Maddox, a team from the NCNW and the NICHD developed programs for parents and children titled Energize Our NCNW Families: Parent Program and Media-Smart Youth: The Essentials. Together, these programs provide parents and children practical research-based information to help families maintain a healthy weight. Read more about this collaboration at https://nihrecord.nih.gov/sites/recordNIH/files/pdf/2008/NIH-Record-2008-11-28.pdf (PDF 1.4 MB).
The NCNW members are conducting training programs for parents and children around the country, using the science-based material developed jointly by the NICHD and the NCNW. This program is a living tribute to Dr. Height and her dedication to justice and equality in all areas of life.
As the NICHD mourns Dr. Height’s death, we also look forward to helping carry on her legacy of working to improve the lives of women and children everywhere.
Originally Posted: April 28, 2010
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