U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, M.P.A., and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., have announced the long-anticipated distribution of state grants through the Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative. The goal of this initiative, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, is to prevent chronic diseases and promote health through policy and environmental changes that reduce obesity and tobacco use. The Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative involves four components: the State and Territories Policy and Environmental Change Initiative, the Community Initiative, the States Chronic Disease Self Management Initiative and the National Prevention and Media Initiative.

On Friday, February 5, Secretary Sebelius and Dr. Frieden announced that more than $119 million has been awarded to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and six Pacific territories through the State and Territories Policy and Environmental Change Initiative. The grant amounts for nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco control projects will range from approximately $100,000 to $2.2 million for states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories. An additional $50,000 to $2.5 million will be provided to expand their tobacco cessation programs. Additionally, 13 states were awarded between $1 million and $3 million in additional funding for specific obesity prevention and tobacco control projects, as part of a competitive funding opportunity. The states selected for these grants include Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas and Wisconsin.

The prevention strategies must be evidence-based and include at least one of the components of the MAPPS (Media, Access, Point of purchase/promotion, Price and Social support/services) Intervention Model. MAPPS interventions are all evidence-based strategies that have been found to be successful in changing community environments. Many of these interventions are included in the Leadership for Healthy Communities Action Strategies Toolkit.

The Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative is a proactive approach to promoting wellness in our communities and will likely be a "best buy for our health," according to Dr. Frieden.

For more information about Communities Putting Prevention to Work, please visit www.hhs.gov/recovery/ or www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/recovery/#keydates.