Coalition of National Health Education Organizations

Web Site Policy

http://www.cnheo.org

General Site Policy:

The Coalition of National Health Education Organizations (CNHEO) maintains a web site under the domain www.cnheo.org.

The goal of the CNHEO website is to provide quality web resources consistent with the mission of the organization and which promote the health of the public through health education and health promotion research, practice, and policy. CNHEO web pages do not grow beyond the number of links that can be maintained on a regular basis. The CNHEO web page is a starting place, which prefers quality rather than quantity.

Website content is reviewed and updated approximately every thirty (30) calendar days. Requests for links from the CNHEO site to another web site should be submitted via e-mail to the CNHEO Webmaster. Content already published by CNHEO is generally accepted for linkage. Other content must be submitted to the CNHEO Communications Committee for approval before inclusion on the CNHEO site.

The CNHEO also supports and maintains, as a separate site, the Health Education Advocate under the domain www.healtheducatinadvocate.org.  This site, which operates on behalf of CNHEO, operates under a separate web site policy and all requests and comments should be directed to the Health Education Advocate Webmaster.

For further information about the CNHEO Web site or to request a link in writing, please contact the CNHEO Webmaster at webmaster@cnheo.org.

Governance:

The Coalition of National Health Education Organizations (CNHEO) website is developed, maintained, and supported by the CNHEO.  While the website is primarily designed to serve the priorities and interests of the CNHEO and its members, it shall be accessible to anyone interested in health education, regardless of his/her organizational representation in CNHEO. 

Operations:

The CNHEO Coordinator shall designate a Webmaster to direct the day-to-day activities of the website. The Webmaster should be someone who has demonstrated knowledge and expertise in website creation and maintenance.  The Webmaster will be responsible to the CNHEO coordinator and will serve as a member of the Communications Committee. 

The CNHEO Coordinator and Communications Committee will make decisions on both content and format for the website.  The CNHEO Coordinator and the Communications Committee shall maintain contact via email and periodic conference call to oversee the website. 

The website will be updated at a minimum monthly, or more often during times of significant activity. Information to be posted to the website shall be sent via email to the CNHEO Webmaster, who will then disseminate it to the Coalition Coordinator and the members of the Communications Committee for review and approval as outlined in this document.  Given the need to post or change information quickly to help mobilize the profession, all committee members will agree to reply to issues within 72 hours of posting by the CNHEO Coordinator or CNHEO Webmaster.  If a member of the committee is unavailable, the decision about posting an item shall be made by a majority vote of the Committee.

Style Guidelines:

The following style guidelines may also be useful to ensure uniformity and readability of the CNHEO website.

• Avoid the use of font size 7 and heading size 1.
• Avoid the use of large graphics on a page of text that can considerably delay downloading.
• Minimize the use of blinking text and flashing images that visitors may find objectionable.
• Choose background colors and images that do not interfere with readability of text.
• Reword text to avoid the use of "click here" and similar instructions.
• If the HTML "frames" capability is used, provide a non‑frames version for people whose browsers do not support frames.
• Include metatags in HTML documents.  To see an example and read an explanation  http://altavista.digital.com/av/content/addurl_meta.htm
• For website and web page design, see Yale C/AIM Web Style Guide at:  http://info.med.yale.edu/caim/manual/index.html 
• Consider including features that address handicap accessibility of the website.

External Linking:

CNHEO reserves the right to reject any request for an external link from its web site. Generally, CNHEO accepts links to CNHEO member organizations, CNHEO committees and other CNHEO-related organizations. CNHEO may consider special link requests from:

1.      Sites that provide information that is related to health education, health promotion and/or public health.

2.      Sites that provide information that is of benefit to CNHEO members that cannot be obtained otherwise on the CNHEO website.

3.      Other health education and public health groups or organizations.

4.      Opportunities that are deemed a benefit to the CNHEO Membership.

All external link requests must comply with the CNHEO website policy on linking from the CNHEO web site. External links from the CNHEO website will be evaluated at least biannually by the Communications Committee. Links found to be in violation of the CNHEO web site policy or links that have outdated content or broken links, or are no longer consistent with the mission and goals of CNHEO will be removed.

In establishing an external link, CNHEO requires that:

1.      The sponsor’s policies do not conflict with the philosophy, objectives or mission of the CNHEO.

2.      The sponsor’s site is not deemed inappropriate by CNHEO.

3.      A reciprocal link be placed on the web site that complies with the CNHEO Guidelines for Third Party Linkage to the CNHEO Web Site.

The CNHEO Communications Committee considers the following questions when deciding to link to a World Wide Web site from any of the CNHEO web pages. A negative response to a question does not automatically mean that CNHEO will not link to the site. However, the final decision does rest in the hands of the CNHEO Communications Committee.

All written requests for linkage from the CNHEO website are evaluated based on the following questions.

Initial Question

• Does the material correlate with the CNHEO mission, goals, and strategic plan?

If so, then the material is evaluated based on the following questions:

Navigation

• Is the site intuitive? Can you find your way around with relative ease?
• Can you tell when you are leaving this site and entering another?

Content

• Is the information accurate and current?
• Does the page have a posting and/or revision date?
• Is the information likely to change on a frequent basis?
• What is the overall quality of information provided by the site?
• Does it have sufficient information to make it worth visiting?
• Do the links from the page lead to related useful sites?
• Are the related sites maintained?
• If it is a commercial site (.com), does the value of the content outweigh the advertisement, or does the advertising considerably detract from the content?
• Is there an educational (.edu) or an organizational (.org) site that offers the same or similar information?
• Is the information on this site unique, or does CNHEO already provide a link to another site with this type of information?

Authority

• Is the author, company, or organization responsible for the site identified?
• Is the author qualified to provide information?
• Has the author or organization provided contact information (email address, mailing address, and phone number)? Is the length of time for a response from the site author reasonable?
• Is the information on the site copyrighted? Does the author appear to have the legal right to display the information?

Accessibility

• Does the page load within a reasonable amount of time on a variety of computers?
• Does the page provide text alternatives to images, i.e., do words pop up when you put your mouse over the image; <Alt> tag)?
• Is the site viewable from any browser or does it require a specific browser?
• Does this site require plug-ins for audio, video or special effects?
• Is the information on the site free? If there is a fee, is there enough free content to justify a link?
• Is this site using frames?
• Is registration required to access the site's content or services? If so, is the registration procedure short and simple?

CNHEO reserves the right to ask for a reciprocal link that complies with the CNHEO Guidelines for Third Party Linkage to the CNHEO Web Site, to be placed on any Web Site that it links to.

The CNHEO reserves the right to change, alter, amend or suspend the linking terms and conditions at any time without prior notice to third parties.

Responsibility for Content at other Web Sites:

CNHEO provides links to web sites as a convenience to members and other users of its web site. By establishing a web link with any external organization, it should not be implied that such linkage constitutes endorsement or support by CNHEO of any such entity. Moreover, CNHEO cannot assume responsibility for material posted at other web sites.

Indemnity:

The CNHEO has provided links to Internet sites maintained by third parties, over which the CNHEO has no control. The CNHEO does not endorse the content, operators, products or services of such sites, and the CNHEO is not responsible or liable for the content, operators, availability, accuracy, quality, advertising, products, services or other materials on or available from such sites. The CNHEO shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such content, products or services available on or through such sites.

CNHEO Guidelines for Third Party Linkage to the CNHEO Web Site

Third parties wishing to establish a link to the CNHEO website must adhere to the guidelines and criteria set forth here.

• Due to the current structure of the CNHEO's web-site, the third party may link only to the home page of the CNHEO's website, www.CNHEO.org.
• The link shall be so configured that the CNHEO's Uniform Resource Locator (URL), www.cnheo.org, is displayed continuously in a user’s browser once the link is completed and through the duration of that user’s link.
• Any text-only link must be clearly marked “Coalition of National Health Education Organizations.”
• Each link created by the third party shall expressly state that such link shall lead to the CNHEO website.
• The CNHEO's website and its appearance and contents shall not be altered, modified, distorted or obscured in any way, through framing or otherwise.
• The names, marks, terms, graphics or other materials on the CNHEO's website shall not be used in a manner that is likely to cause confusion with or damage the reputation or commercial image of CNHEO or any of its products or services.
• Links to CNHEO's website from third party websites should not suggest that the CNHEO has any interest or association with the services or operations of the third party, or that the CNHEO endorses any of the third party’s causes, ideas, political campaigns, websites, information, products or services.
• Third parties shall not copy, distribute, or otherwise lift any of the contents of any of the CNHEO's website, nor are they authorized to incorporate content of the CNHEO website into other websites or media without express written permission from the CNHEO, or to use the CNHEO content for commercial or fundraising purposes.
• The CNHEO reserves the right to request a reciprocal link to the linking site.
• The CNHEO has the right to the removal of a link to our site if it can be perceived to be confusing, deceptive, or damaging in any way.
• The CNHEO asserts the right to reject or later to withdraw third parties’ legal permission to link to the CNHEO website at any time.
• The CNHEO reserves the right to change, alter, amend or suspend the linking terms and conditions at any time without prior notice to third parties.
• The CNHEO reserves the right to exercise and exhaust any right, privilege or remedy available to it under this Linkage Policy, including, without limitation, instituting legal action and/or taking measures to deny access to any of the CNHEO's website from the website of the third party.

The CNHEO is an organization committed to the highest ethics and standards, both in fact and appearance. While we make every attempt to regularly monitor links into the CNHEO website, the dynamics of the Internet allow for infinite links from one website to another without a site host being aware of the link from another site. Therefore, the CNHEO cannot be responsible for content on any website connected via hyperlink to the CNHEO website. Upon request, however, the CNHEO will investigate links to its website and attempt to determine if they are inappropriate or contrary to the CNHEO's objectives and mission. In such a case, the CNHEO will attempt to have the link removed.

For Persons Accessing the CNHEO's Website Via Linkage from Another Website

The linkage of any person's or organization's website to the CNHEO's website shall not be deemed or construed to create or imply:

1.      Any partnership, joint venture, affiliation, or other relationship between such person or organization and the CNHEO; or

2.      Any endorsement or approval by the Authority of such person or organization or his or its products, activities, or operations.

The CNHEO makes no representation or warranty with regard to the content or functions on such person's or organization's website and shall not be held liable or responsible for such content or functions. Any questions or comments regarding such person's or organization's website or the link to the CNHEO's website should be directed to such person or organization.

This document was approved on February 13, 2007.