The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) states that “$650M shall be provided to carry out evidence-based clinical and community-based prevention and wellness strategies authorized by the Public Health Service Act that deliver specific, measurable health outcomes that address chronic disease rates.” The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) developed an initiative in response to the Act called Communities Putting Prevention to Work to reduce risk factors and prevent/delay chronic disease and promote wellness in both children and adults, and provide positive, sustainable health change in communities.
The ARRA Prevention and Wellness Fund Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative provided grants to states and grants to communities to expand the use of evidence-based strategies and programs, mobilize local resources at the community-level, and strengthen the capacity of states. The initiative has a strong emphasis on policy and environmental change at both the state and local levels and will:
- Increase levels of physical activity;
- Improve nutrition;
- Decrease obesity rates; and
- Decrease smoking prevalence, teen smoking initiation, and exposure to second-hand smoke.
States and Territories Policy and Environmental Change Initiative
$120 million supports States and Territories in promoting wellness and preventing chronic disease through state-wide policy and environmental change for chronic disease prevention and to increase tobacco cessation through expanded quit lines and tobacco cessation media. These awards are posted on the HHS Recovery website at http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/programs/stateinitiatives.html#environmental.
Texas Competitive and State Supplemental Awards
Texas received the following competitive and state supplemental awards: $2.2 million for policy and environmental change initiatives addressing physical activity, nutrition and tobacco control; $2,194,059 for tobacco cessation through quitlines and media; and, $2,797,900 for a competitive special policy and environmental change initiative to implement the Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Project to facilitate the development and implementation of worksite policies that support breastfeeding statewide.
Community Initiative
Nearly $373 million was awarded for intensive community approaches to chronic disease prevention and control in selected communities (urban, rural, and tribal). These awards are posted on the HHS Recovery website at: http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/programs/cppw/factsheet.html.
Texas Competitive Community Awards
San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, Texas $15.6 Million
To improve opportunities for physical activity, nutrition, and active living, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District will work with community partners to expand the number of public facilities, including schools that are available for after-hours use for physical activity. San Antonio also will encourage city development projects to improve protection for vulnerable users, in accordance with Complete Streets recommendations. The project also will implement voluntary healthy food and beverage guidelines for local restaurants and will conduct trainings for education leaders to improve physical activity and the availability of healthy foods in schools.
Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department, Texas $7.5 Million
Austin /Travis County will prevent and reduce tobacco use by working with community partners in schools, worksites, health care settings, faith-based organizations, retail settings, and the media. Key activities include assisting major health care providers and substance abuse facilities in referring clients to telephone quitlines and other local community cessation services; reducing youth access to tobacco products and marketing; implementing educational campaigns to promote a tobacco-free lifestyle and counteract tobacco industry promotions; and promote tobacco-free environments in worksites and other community settings.
Contact Information:
For additional information and questions, please email us to find out more about DSHS and the Recovery Act.