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State & Local Projects

Wellness and Prevention Grants

Section: Division A, TitleVII | Agency: Dept. of Health

Competitive and non-competitive programs for clinical and community-based prevention and wellness strategies.

Brief description of program or funding including funding distribution method (formula or competitive grant):  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has created a comprehensive initiative for the $650 million allotted for evidence-based clinical-based and community-based prevention and wellness strategies in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. 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.

Announcement: Communities Putting Prevention to Work

The Florida Department of Health, the Miami-Dade County Health Department, and the Orange County Health Department are pleased to announce a total award of approximately $27 million for the Communities Putting Prevention to Work Program.

The awarded funds focus on strategies to address obesity prevention through physical activity and nutrition policy or environmental change and reduced use of tobacco products through cessation or prevention, both locally and statewide.  The state grants have three components:

Component I - $2.1 million

This funding will focus on obesity prevention and tobacco cessation/prevention through policy changes promoting:

• Physical Activity through increasing participation in the  Safe Routes to School – Walking School Bus program;

• Nutrition by increasing the number of baby-friendly school districts and state agencies that encourage and support breastfeeding for lactating employees; and

• Tobacco cessation by increasing the number of tobacco-free parks and recreational facilities

Regional coordinators located throughout the state will work with local Healthy Communities/Healthy People and tobacco coordinators, staff from the Departments of Transportation, Environmental Protection, and Education, local school district staff, the Florida Breastfeeding Coalition, Healthy Start, and other local organizations to accomplish these goals.

Component II - $1.97 million

This funding will provide the resources to implement recent legislation requiring at least 150 minutes of physical education each week for students in grades six through eight.  Staff in each of the almost 600 public middle schools throughout Florida will be trained to use the Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) curricula, which has been endorsed by the CDC and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.  The strategies will be implemented with the support of the Department of Education, the Council of District Administrators of Physical Education (CODA) and the Florida Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (FAHPERD).

Component III - $1.77 million

This funding will be used to increase intake and counseling through Florida’s tobacco cessation quitline and increase the number of Floridians served by the quitline.  Tobacco Free Florida’s statewide cessation broadcast media efforts will be expanded through high-impact spots that will elicit strong emotional response, such as personal testimonials.  Expanded media efforts will reach 75% to 85 % of the target audience each quarter of the year during the media campaign.  A cessation website will be created for clients who wish to participate in cessation counseling online rather than by telephone.

Orange County -  $6.6 million

Orange County will implement tobacco prevention and control policy changes that will expand the smoke-free environment to all Orange County and municipal parks, reduce youth access to tobacco, and implement  Ask, Advise, Refer as part of tobacco use assessments by health care providers. To accomplish these goals, Orange County will support usage bans (100% smoke-free policies or 100% tobacco-free policies) and zoning restrictions; increase labeling, signage, and placement to discourage consumption of tobacco; support evidence-based pricing strategies that discourage tobacco use; and implement quitline and other cessation services.  Policy, systems, and environment interventions will be implemented at multiple venues, including schools, parks, health care provider offices, and neighborhoods to address multiple Orange County population age groups in an effort to enable health behavior change.

Miami-Dade – $14.7 million

This initiative will focus on populations with the highest prevalence of risk factors and health disparities. The health department will partner with community agencies toward initiating farmers markets in underserved areas, Farm to School Programs,  increasing access to fruits and vegetables at corner stores, and healthy food options in vending machines. Breastfeeding will be promoted in birthing facilities. Physical activity will be promoted through installation of bicycle facilities throughout the county, installation of way-finding and share the road signage with bicycles, incorporating the Great Streets Planning Principle, high school physical education expansion, and expansion of Safe Routes to School.

The Communities Putting Prevention to Work will be implemented through the committees of the Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade.

When funds are expected to be available:  Although there has been no formal announcement, we expect the funds to be available within the next three to six months.

How long are funds available:  Approximately two years.

Conditions or prerequisites for accessing funds (include matching or MOE requirements):  Unknown