Marking a ground-breaking partnership with a social network, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC (http://www.cdc.gov)) and DailyStrength (http://dailystrength.org), the Internet's fastest growing health-focused social network, today announced a partnership to launch several innovative joint programs. Under the partnership, CDC will gain access to DailyStrength's powerful community networking tools, and DailyStrength will bring CDC's expert health information and science to DailyStrength's users.
When the first components of this new initiative launch during the first quarter of 2008, DailyStrength users will be able to discover CDC health information and science relevant to their
particular health conditions, and use new interactive tools to discuss and share with fellow community members and with the CDC, gaining a deeper and more meaningful understanding of
health issues.
"As the nation's premiere public health agency, CDC has always been very progressive and forward-thinking in its outreach efforts. Through this partnership with DailyStrength, the agency
can reach a new and emerging audience that actively seeks health information via social networking," said Sharon Orrange, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at the University of
Southern California and DailyStrength Advisory Board member.
DailyStrength founder and CEO Doug Hirsch added "Our members will benefit from accessing such reliable and authoritative information directly from CDC on DailyStrength. We look forward to
collaborating with CDC to make health information even more easily available and interactive."
Helping more than 400,000 users every month in more than 600 Community Support Groups (http://dailystrength.org), DailyStrength has become the "go
to" destination for people facing health, wellness and life issues. Beyond support and encouragement, DailyStrength offers detailed information on more than 3,000 different treatments, so
users can find and talk with others about their real-world experience using the same therapy. This valuable information can help patients make more informed decisions when considering
treatment options with their physicans. DailyStrength also offers live news feeds tailored to each community, personal blogs, and Goals, designed to provide mutual encouragement and
support for members' personal goals.
About DailyStrength:
DailyStrength offers hundreds of free online support groups for people seeking information, advice, and inspiration from others facing similar challenges, be it depression, divorce,
grief, weight loss, breast cancer, parenting, HIV, or hundreds of other issues. Community members share experiences with thousands of treatments, recommend doctors, explore local support
resources, post photos and videos, maintain wellness journals and send each other virtual hugs. In the words of one depression support group member, "This what the Internet should be used
for. A real global community, supporting and caring for our fellow beings. Absolutely inspired and inspiring."
DailyStrength is headquartered in Los Angeles and is backed by Redpoint Ventures.