Texas DSHS recently awarded obesity prevention grants to 11 Texas Communities for FY2010-11. Applications were submitted by a variety of entities representing local/county governments, non-profit and community-based organizations, academic institutions, schools, hospitals, and community coalitions. The total amount of funds awarded was $ 2,565,376, with awards ranging from approximately $150,000 to $300,000 per project. Awards were made available through funds provided by DSHS’ Office of Title V & Family Health; Office of Border Health; and Nutrition, Physical Activity & Obesity Prevention Program (NPAOP). NPAOP received funds through appropriations from the 81st Legislative Session to address chronic disease prevention through, among other initiatives, competitive grants to communities for evidence-based initiatives to improve nutrition and physical activity behaviors that lead to reduced obesity. Funded initiatives are based on a published set of recommended strategies per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the purpose to encourage and support healthy eating and active living.
For more information on the CDC Community Strategies, please refer to the Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States Implementation and Measurement Guide (PDF, 2.6 MB). The grants are structured to accommodate communities at different stages of readiness in advancing policy and environmental change initiatives that have shown promise in the prevention of obesity.
The following communities will be collaborating with DSHS and other state and local partners to implement one or more of the obesity-prevention strategies:
Community Council of Greater Dallas-Dallas
Texas A&M University Health Science Center Research Foundation-Hidalgo County, Cameron County, and Starr County
Texas State University-San Marcos
University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston
Brazos Valley Community Action Agency, Inc.-Bryan and College Station
Houston Department of Health and Human Services-Houston
Teaching and Mentoring Communities-Laredo (and 29 counties throughout Texas)
City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District-San Antonio
Memorial Hospital-Nacogdoches
City of Henderson-Henderson
City of Austin Health and Human Services-Austin
External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may also not be accessible to people with disabilities.