On Friday, March 19, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the recipients of the Community Prevention and Wellness Grants as part of the Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiatives. The goal of these initiatives, 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 rates and tobacco use. Communities Putting Prevention to Work includes four initiatives: 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.

Forty-four communities of varying sizes received grants through the Community Initiative, of which 23 will focus on obesity prevention, 14 will focus on tobacco cessation and seven received funding for both obesity prevention and tobacco cessation. The grants total more than $372 million. These grants will provide communities with the support and resources they need to create healthier environments and provide people with more opportunities to eat healthy and be physically active.

To view the complete list of grantees: http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/programs/cppw/grantees.html

For more information about Communities Putting Prevention to Work: http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/recovery/