On September 17, 2009, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the release of $373 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to fund the first part of a new $650 million initiative entitled, Communities Putting Prevention to Work.
This landmark initiative will create healthier communities across the nation through innovative and proven approaches that address physical activity, nutrition, obesity, and tobacco use.
The $373 million will fund grants to communities through a competitive selection process to support evidence-based prevention strategies for youth and adults and will promote partnerships across communities and sectors. Approximately 30-40 communities will be selected for the Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative.
Applicants may include: large cities (population > 1 million), urban areas (population > 500,000, but less than 1 million), tribal communities, and State-coordinated small cities and rural areas (populations of up to 500,000 people). Funded projects will emphasize high-impact, broad-reaching policy, environmental, and systems changes in schools (K-12) and communities. For example, communities will work to make high-fat snack foods and sugar-sweetened beverages less available in schools and other community sites and to use media to promote healthy choices.
In addition, funded communities will be encouraged to provide quality physical education in the nation's schools and enact comprehensive smoking bans. Communities that wish to apply for awards can find more information at http://www.grants.gov/. The application deadline for the community projects is December 1, 2009.
The remainder of the funds for this initiative will be made available in the coming weeks to states, territories, and organizations to support, extend and evaluate the reach and impact of the community projects.
View Strategic Alliances' Summary of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).
Click here for a press release of the Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative.
