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Federal government awards $119 million to support public health efforts to improve wellness

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that it has awarded more than $119 million to U.S. states and territories to support public health efforts to reduce obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition and decrease smoking.

The money supports one of several components in the department’s comprehensive prevention and wellness initiative — Communities Putting Prevention to Work, which is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The funding, which will be provided to the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and six Pacific territories, will focus on efforts to help communities and schools support healthy choices via media to support healthy food and beverage choices and increased physical activity, as well as increased access to healthy choices and safe places to be active.

Awards will also support efforts to increase tobacco cessation through quit-lines and media campaigns. Additional funding was provided to 13 states to support special initiatives.

“Our goal through these statewide projects is to make healthy choices the easier choices for all Americans, no matter where they live,” Kathleen Sebelius, HHS secretary, said in a press release. “When we improve obesity-related and tobacco policies, we make it that much easier for people to eat right, to get more physical activity and to avoid or stop smoking.”

Awards to states and categories are in three major categories:

• Statewide policy and environmental change. All 58 applicants will receive funding for efforts in nutrition, physical activity and tobacco control. The states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico award amounts range from $335,801 to $2.2 million; territory award amounts range from $99,980 to $100,000.
• Competitive special policy and environmental change. Thirteen states were funded ($1 million to $3 million per state) to implement 15 projects.
• Tobacco cessation through quit-lines and media. CDC received applications from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam. Fifty-three applicants will receive funding ($50,000 to $2.5 million) to expand tobacco quit-lines in concert with expanded cessation media campaigns.

Awards for other Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiatives, including community-based health promotion initiatives, will be announced in the coming weeks.