The Community Transformation Grants Program

On September 27, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced more than $103 million in Community Transformation Grant funding to states and communities across the country to fight chronic disease, which is the leading cause of death in America.

Created by the Affordable Care Act, the Community Transformation Grants (CTG) program supports states and communities that tackle the root causes of poor health so Americans can lead healthier, more productive lives. Grantees will use these funds to improve where Americans live, work, play, and go to school to reduce chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes, which are a significant portion of the health care costs in the U.S. By promoting healthy lifestyles, especially among population groups experiencing the highest rates of chronic disease, these grants will help improve health, reduce health disparities, and control health care spending.

The Cost of Chronic Disease & the Need for Prevention 
Chronic diseases are responsible for 75% of health care costs in the United States. The indirect costs of poor health—including absenteeism, disability, and reduced work output—may be several times higher than the direct medical costs.  Unfortunately, in too many communities today, healthy choices are neither easy nor affordable.  As a result, 7 out of 10 deaths among Americans each year are from chronic diseases, and almost 1 out of every 2 adults has at least one chronic illness.  By giving Americans more choices and making American communities healthier, these grants will help improve health, reduce health disparities, and lower health care costs.

Support for States and Communities 
Through funds made available by the Affordable Care Act’s Prevention and Public Health Fund, more than $103 million has been awarded to 61 communities and states serving approximately 120 million Americans. Awards are distributed among State and local government agencies, tribes and territories, and non-profit organizations. Awards went to grantees in 36 states, including seven tribal organizations, and one territory. Consistent with the program’s authorization, at least 20% of grant funds will be directed to rural and frontier areas. The grants are expected to run for five years.

Building Capacity and Implementing Programs to Improve Americans’ Health 
This funding will support both capacity building and implementation grants for states and communities:

• 35 grantees will implement proven interventions to help improve health and wellness. Funding amounts range from $500,000 to $10 million depending on population size and scope of project.
  
• 26 grantees will work to build capacity by laying a solid foundation for sustainable community prevention efforts. Funding amounts range from $147,000 to $500,000 depending on population size and scope of project.

All grantees will work to address the following priority areas: 1) tobacco-free living; 2) active living and healthy eating; and 3) quality clinical and other preventive services, specifically prevention and control of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. This work will further amplify the efforts of Million Hearts, an HHS initiative to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes in the next five years. Specific examples include: support to local farmers and development of small grocery stores in residential areas, particularly in food deserts to increase access to healthier foods; or assigning patient navigators to key clinics to assist patients in remaining in care.

Capacity Building Awards

For more information on CTG Capacity Building communities and states, including information on which areas they intend to serve, please visit: www.cdc.gov/communitytransformation/funds/programs.htm#capacity

Implementation Awards

For more information on CTG implementation communities, including information on which areas they intend to serve, please visit: www.cdc.gov/communitytransformation/funds/programs.htm#implementation

National Dissemination and Support Initiative of the CTG program

Seven national networks of community-based organizations will help support, disseminate, and amplify the proven strategies of the CTG program in communities nationwide, including rural and frontier areas and in those areas with health disparities. These national networks received awards under two categories, dissemination and acceleration.

Four national networks of community-based organizations received dissemination awards.

For more information on the national networks that received awards under the National Dissemination and Support Initiative of the CTG program, visit http://www.cdc.gov/communitytransformation/network/funded.htm.

For More Information

For more information about the Community Transformation Grants program, visit www.cdc.gov/communitytransformation.

Posted on: September 27, 2011