The Community Transformation Grants, which uses funds from the Affordable Care Act, are to support public health efforts to reduce chronic diseases, promote healthier lifestyles, reduce health disparities and control health care spending. Nationally, the grants are to focus on three priority areas - tobacco-free living; active living and healthy eating; and evidence-based quality clinical and other preventive services, specifically prevention and control of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

The SEARHC grant funding will be used to sponsor a regional health conference about disease prevention and, in early summer 2011, start awarding sub-grants to eligible community-based projects that meet the goals of the main grant. Some examples of possible projects include:

  • adding local and traditional foods to school lunches,
  • working with grocery stores to move healthy fruit, nut and whole-grain snacks near cash registers,
  • tobacco free school zones,
  • expanding or enhancing tribal culture camps,
  • helping communities become friendlier for bicyclists and walkers,
  • breast feeding policies
  • and more.

The project conference will be held in April 24 & 25 in Juneau.

Sub-grant award details will be made available after the new grant program staff is hired.

Contact information: Kathy O'Gara at 966-8736 or Martha Pearson at 966-8783