Sebelius Announces Availability of Prevention and Wellness Fund Grants

Washington, Sept. 23 – Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced the availability of $373 million in cooperative agreements to support preventive health care practices aimed at lowering two of the nation’s leading causes of chronic disease and death: obesity and tobacco use.

The funding comes from a new program created by the Recovery Act, known as the Prevention and Wellness Fund. Of the fund’s $1 billion ARRA appropriation, $373 million will support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) program, which will award cooperative agreements to state, local and tribal health agencies for projects that combat smoking or encourage better nutrition and physical wellness.