The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Community Health (CDC/DCH) has funded 47 new community organizations, including 15 local WIC agencies, to improve healthy eating, increase opportunities for physical activity, promote tobacco-free/smoke free environments, and/or improve access to chronic disease prevention, risk reduction, and disease management at the community level. These awards, which are part of CDC's Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH) National Organizations program, have been provided to chapters or affiliates of the American Heart Association, American Planning Association, and National WIC Association to use sound, evidence-based strategies that reduce the risks of costly chronic disease and promote healthier lifestyles. The 47 new chapters/affiliates can be viewed here. With this second round of funding, there are now 97 unique communities that have been supported since April 2015.
NWA, along with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), is partnering with these 15 local WIC Agencies over the course of the next 15 months to reduce and prevent chronic disease by improving access to healthy food environments and improving access to chronic disease prevention and management services. The local agencies will be working with community partners to build and enhance community partnerships, perform community needs assessments, and develop and implement strategies to achieve community health goals.