Empowering Women’s Health: The Connecticut WISEWOMAN Initiative Unveiled

Consider YOURSELF.

Reflect on a WOMAN in your life. 

• In 2023, 83,985 female residents of Connecticut were hospitalized for treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart disease, coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension, and diabetes.
• According to the 2022 BRFSS, Hispanic women aged 35-64 in Connecticut are 2.6 times more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease compared to non-Hispanic White women.
• 66% of women aged 35-64 in Connecticut are considered overweight or obese, with 35% classified as obese. Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black women (approximately 80%) have a higher likelihood of being overweight or obese compared to non-Hispanic White and other racial groups (~60%).
• In 2022, 73.5% of women aged 35-64 in Connecticut reported engaging in leisure-time physical activity; however, only 58.2% of uninsured women stated they were physically active.

The Connecticut WISEWOMAN Program supports about 1,200 residents annually. We have assisted roughly 4,500 individuals in accessing medical care, obtaining cardiovascular screenings, and engaging in nutrition and physical activity programs, among other services.

Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for WOMen Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN)

The WISEWOMAN Program of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aims to assist women aged 35-64 in lowering their risk of heart disease and encouraging a heart-healthy lifestyle.

The Connecticut WISEWOMANN Program provides FREE healthy and supportive Lifestyle Programs for participants, including:

• Health Coaching
• Specialized Health Coaching (such as Dietitian and Mental Health)
• Weight Watchers (either in-person or online)
• Self-Monitored Blood Pressure
• Community Support in Health Coaching (examples include: Healthy Cooking Classes, Gym Memberships, Yoga or Zumba Fitness classes, Community Gardens, Diabetes Life Care Programs)
• Diabetes Prevention Program

Connecticut is among only 4 New England states that provides this program.

The WISEWOMAN program administered by Connecticut’s Department of Public Health (DPH) offers women identified at risk for cardiovascular disease the chance to join a lifestyle modification program that encompasses nutrition and physical activity strategies. This program integrates cardiovascular disease screenings and intervention services into the existing healthcare framework of the DPH Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program’s contracted healthcare provider locations. Apart from a clinical breast exam, Pap test, and mammogram, women participating in the WISEWOMAN Program also receive cardiovascular disease screenings.

Services offered by WISEWOMAN comprise:

• BMI
• Height
• Weight
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  Blood pressure
• Cholesterol
• Blood glucose assessment 
• Lifestyle initiatives

Who Qualifies for Enrollment?

You qualify for program services if:

• You are a participant in the Connecticut Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (CBCCEDP)
• You are aged 35-64 years
• Your income is at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level – Refer to the chart below
• You lack health insurance, or
• Your insurance has a deductible of $1,000 or more, or
• Your health insurance policy does not cover routine blood pressure screenings, lipid profiles, and blood glucose tests.

FEDERAL & STATE INCOME ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

(Based on 250% of the 2024 Federal Poverty Standards)

*Household gross earnings must be less than or equal to the following:

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Get in Touch with Us or the Program Center in Your Area

Reach Out via Email:

For additional information, please forward your first name alongside your contact number or email address to the Connecticut Early Detection and Prevention Program (CEDPP).

Dial Any of These Locations:

The Connecticut Department of Public Health, 860-509-7804 or

Reach out to your local healthcare provider program mentioned below.