On Friday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius joined CDC Director Thomas Frieden to announce awards to states and territories, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Community Prevention and Wellness Grants.
This landmark funding opportunity supports public health efforts across the country, channeling millions of dollars towards initiatives that will increase opportunities for physical activity, nutrition, and decreased smoking. From menu-labeling efforts in New York, to improving physical activity through land use and transportation planning in North Carolina, the new grant allocations represent a real investment in common sense prevention efforts: they save money by building healthier communities.
To see more information on the state funding distribution, please click here to download the CDC overview.
Prevention Institute's own study, Prevention for a Healthier America, authored with Trust for America's Health, makes a compelling case for similar community prevention strategies:
- Prevention saves money—an investment of $10 per person per year in programs to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and prevent tobacco use could save the country more than $16 billion in annual health care costs within five years.
- There is a substantial return—on-investment in prevention-for every $1 invested in community-based prevention, the return amounts to $5.60 within five year.
- High rates of saving are possible in every state—the return on investment projected varies from state to state, from a low of $3.70 to $1 in Utah to a high of $9.90 to $10 in Washington, D.C.