CDC’s Division for Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) announces the availability of Fiscal Year 2018 funds to implement CDC-RFA-DP18-1813: Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH). This 5-year program will improve health, prevent chronic diseases, and reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic populations with the highest risk, or burden, of chronic disease, specifically for African Americans/Blacks, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Alaska Natives, by:

1. Supporting culturally tailored interventions to address the preventable health behaviors of tobacco use, poor nutrition and physical inactivity;
2. Linking community and clinical efforts to increase access to health care and preventive care programs at the community level; and
3. Supporting implementation, evaluation and dissemination of practice- and evidence-based strategies related to tobacco, nutrition, physical activity, and community-clinical linkages that ultimately lead to reduced health disparities in chronic conditions of hypertension, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity

The purpose of this NOFO is to support communities in readily implementing population-wide solutions to improving health, preventing chronic disease, and reducing health disparities among priority populations with the highest risk or burden of chronic disease related to health risk behaviors – tobacco use, poor nutrition and physical inactivity. Addressing chronic disease health disparities is complex. The risk is affected by not only health behaviors and access to health care but also by factors that include income, education, economic opportunity, and location of residence. In addition, the risk for chronic disease starts very early in life. Attention to improving the access to high quality nutrition, opportunities for physical activity, and providing a smoke free environment for young children are critical steps in reducing health disparities. Thus, any effort to improve this multi-faceted challenge requires a long term vision and investment.

Funding will support recipients that:

1. Have a history of successfully working with an established coalition who addresses health or other disparities;
2. Select strategies that address the health disparities in the community based on a health needs assessment process;
3. Have organizational capacity to implement locally tailored evidence-based and practice-based strategies