HHS to grant $100M for community transformation

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made more than $100 million available to fund as many as 75 Community Transformation Grants.

Created by the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, the grants are aimed at helping communities implement projects proven to reduce chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.

The grants will focus on five priority areas:

  • Tobacco-free living;
  • Active living and healthy eating;
  • Evidence-based quality clinical and other preventive services, specifically prevention and control of high blood pressure and high cholesterol;
  • Social and emotional wellness, such as facilitating early identification of mental health needs and access to quality services, especially for people with chronic conditions; and
  • Healthy and safe physical environments.

Successful applicants must use evidence-based strategies and ensure that their activities not only have broad population impact, but also help address health disparities, HHS stated.

Communities may also address additional areas of disease prevention and health promotion that will contribute to the overall goal of reducing chronic disease rates, including adolescent health; arthritis and osteoporosis; cancer; diabetes; disabilities and secondary conditions; educational and community-based services; environmental health; HIV; injury and violence prevention; maternal, infant, and child health; mental health and mental disorders; health of older adults; oral health and sexually transmitted diseases, HHS added.

State and local government agencies, tribes and territories, and state and local nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for Community Transformation Grants. At least 20 percent of grant funds will be directed to rural and frontier areas.

Applications are due to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in July 2011, with awards expected to be announced near the end of summer. The grants are expected to run for five years, with projects expanding their scope and reach over time as resources permit.

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