National Sleep Foundation

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is an independent nonprofit organization in the USA whose objectives are to improve public health and safety by achieving understanding of sleep and sleep disorders, and to support sleep-related education, research, and advocacy.

Established in 1990, the NSF relies on voluntary contributions including grants from foundations, corporations, government agencies and other organizations to support its programs.

The goals of the NSF are to ensure that:


 * 1) Americans are aware that their sleep is an important component of their health and safety, and that they make obtaining sufficient sleep a priority.
 * 2) Americans recognize the signs and symptoms of sleep disorders and seek effective treatment for them.
 * 3) Public and private institutions operate in a manner consistent with providing optimal sleep for human health and performance.
 * 4) The incidence of drowsy driving is reduced so that it is rare and an exception.
 * 5) New sleep-related discoveries are made that optimize public health and detection and treatment of sleep disorders.

Programs and activities

 * National Sleep Awareness Week - A public education, information, and awareness campaign that coincides with the return of Daylight Saving Time, the annual "springing forward" of clocks that can cause Americans to lose an hour of sleep.
 * Sleep in America polls - Polls that focus on different demographics every year the surveys are conducted. For example, the 2006 poll surveyed American adolescents and young adults, and the 2004 poll focused on infants up to school-aged children.
 * Sleep Care Centers - More than 800 sleep centers both nationally and internationally partnered with NSF to raise public awareness about the vital importance of sleep in their communities; the sleep centers are dues-paying members of the National Sleep Foundation.
 * Drowsy Driving Prevention Week - A national campaign to save the lives of young drivers by raising awareness of the dangers of drowsy driving and providing resources for advocacy at the state level.

Funding and editorial independence
The National Sleep Foundation is supported by a number of sources, including individual donors, sales of educational materials, advertising, investment income, grants and memberships.

Membership types include individual membership, professional membership, Pickwick Club Membership, Sleep Awareness Cosponsors and Community Sleep Awareness Partner (CSAP) Membership.

Grant sources include foundations, corporations and federal agencies.

Grants accepted from corporations, which include companies involved in health care and consumer products and services, are only accepted on an unrestricted basis, meaning that the foundation alone determines the ideas and content published or promoted in the program created by the grant support.

All of the educational resources produced by the National Sleep Foundation are developed and/or reviewed by independent experts selected for their knowledge about a particular subject. They comprise a task force for review of a designated project and their service is generally listed in the project publication.

The foundation's policy ensures that its recommendations are consistent with positions of the National Institutes of Health, findings of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, guidelines of relevant medical societies, and professional consensus statements or best evidence based on scientific research published in peer-reviewed journals.

National Sleep Foundation Directory of Sleep Professionals
The National Sleep Foundation offers a "Find a Sleep Professional" web directory for patients searching for healthcare specialists in their area. This database includes board-certified sleep specialists, dentists, cognitive-behavioral therapists, and other doctors who routinely see patients with sleep problems.

Publications and newsletters
The National Sleep Foundation publishes the following:
 * sleep matters® - NSF's membership magazine covering news, information, and tips.
 * NSF Alert- NSF's weekly e-mail newsletter.

Additional sources

 * "National Sleep Foundation Accepting 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award Nominations," 4 May 2011, in Sleep Review online, at http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/all-news/17635-national-sleep-foundation-accepting-2012-lifetime-achievement-award-nominations.
 * "National Sleep Foundation and Fabrictech Partner for Sleep Health Education," 7 September 2011, in Sleep Review online, at http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/all-news/17828-national-sleep-foundation-and-fabrictech-partner-for-sleep-health-education-.
 * "NSF Creates Sleep Disorders Guide for Primary Care Physicians," 4 April 2013, in Sleep Review online, at http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/products/18414-nsf-creates-sleep-disorders-guide-for-primary-caregivers.
 * "Exercise the Right to Sleep," 11 June 2013, in Sleep Review online, at http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/all-news/18522-exercise-the-right-to-sleep.
 * "National Sleep Foundation Poll Explores Transportation Workers' Sleep," March 12, 2012, in Advance for Respiratory Care & Sleep Medicine online, at http://respiratory-care-sleep-medicine.advanceweb.com/News/Daily-News-Watch/National-Sleep-Foundation-Poll-Explores-Transportation-Workers-Sleep.aspx.
 * "National Sleep Foundation publishes digital version of 'The Sleep Disorders'," April 5, 2013, in Advance for Respiratory Care & Sleep Medicine online, at http://respiratory-care-sleep-medicine.advanceweb.com/News/Daily-News-Watch/National-Sleep-Foundation-publishes-digital-version-of-The-Sleep-Disorders.aspx.