Federal agencies launch Apps4TotsHealth challenge

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and healthdata.gov is offering $25,000 in prizes in its most recent Apps4TotsHealth Challenge, according to an online announcement.

Specifically, the agencies are calling on researchers, developers and other innovators to utilize healthdata.gov data application programming interface (API) and integrate the TXT4Tots message library into a new or existing platform. TXT4Tots is a library of short, evidence-based messages that are targeted to parents and caregivers of children, ages 1-5, which focus on nutrition and physical activity.

The challenge emcompasses two aims: 1. Showcase the use of the new data API on healthdata.gov; and 2. Incorporate the TXT4Tots message library into a new or existing platform.

“We are looking to you to use the TXT4Tots library content as part of a larger application, where these messages will augment existing content and provide for a richer application as a result,” according to the government announcement.

The submission period for interested participants began April 10 and ends on May 20. Winners will be announced at the Health Datapalooza on June 3 and 4 in Washington, DC.

More details on the challenge are here.

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