American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: : summary of the prevention and wellness initiative-community component

LEGISLATIVE BRIEF
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Summary of the Prevention and Wellness Initiative Community Component
Overview
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has created a comprehensive initiative for the $650 million allotted for chronic disease prevention efforts in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The goal of this initiative Communities Putting Prevention to Work is to reduce risk factors, prevent/delay chronic disease, promote wellness in children and adults, and provide positive, sustainable health change in communities.
The funding for this initiative has been broken into two separate funding opportunities: The Community Program ($373 million)
Through a competitive selection process cooperative agreements will be awarded to 40 communities across the country
Selection of communities will be determined by the mix of interventions, population size, ability to reduce health disparities and likelihood of success
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will support evidencebased community approaches to chronic disease prevention and control in selected communities (urban and rural) to achieve the following prevention outcomes: Increased levels of physical activity Improved nutrition Decreased overweight/obesity prevalence Decreased tobacco use Decreased exposure to secondhand smoke
Communities will be required to assemble an effective community-wide consortium with a history of working with partners such as local and state health departments and other governmental agencies, health centers, schools, businesses, community and faith-based organizations, academic institutions, health care, mental health/substance abuse organizations, health plans, and other community partners to promote health and prevent chronic diseases.
Awards to States ($125 million) Additional ARRA Prevention and Wellness funds have been made available to State Departments of Public Health. Funding is available in three areas:
Component I is non-competitive funding for states to develop and implement statewide policy and environmental change strategies that address obesity, physical activity, nutrition and tobacco use prevention. Georgia is eligible to receive up to $1,269,574 over a 24 month period
Component II is competitive funding for states to develop and implement a special, statewide policy or environmental change initiative focused on obesity, physical activity, nutrition, or tobacco use prevention. For Component II, CDC will fund up to 15 states, awards of $1,000,000 to $3,000,000
Component III is non-competitive funding for states to address tobacco cessation through Quit Lines and media. Georgia is eligible to receive up to $1,162,651 over a 24 month period
For guidance documents explaining the process for communities interested in applying for funding as a state coordinated small city or rural area, please log onto the DCH Web site at dch.georgia.gov; click on the "Stimulus ARRA Funding" box on the right side.
The Georgia Department Community of Health - www.dch.georgia.gov