FYI from the RML: HHS Press Release re: community funds

[NNLM PNR]

HHS ANNOUNCES NEW "MICRO-GRANT" APPROACH TO ENLIST COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR
HEALTH GOALS

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced that HHS plans to award
hundreds of "micro-grants" to community organizations for activities that
support the goals of Healthy People 2010, the nation's public health
agenda for the next decade.

Worth up to $2,010 each, the micro-grants represent a new, low-cost
approach to foster effective prevention efforts at the community level.
Each grant will support efforts by local groups to promote health
education, quality care, access to care and other projects that support
the far-reaching national health goals of Healthy People 2010. Faith-based
organizations will be among those eligible to apply for funding.

"This is a new idea for HHS, a way to leverage very small grants into
very widespread action," Secretary Thompson said. "Though small in size,
these grants can have a large impact by tapping the potential of local
organizations to make a difference in the lives of the people closest to
them."

Healthy People 2010 has established a broad set of goals and specific
targets for improving the nation's health over the next 10 years and,
for the first time, has identified the Leading Health Indicators -- 10
high priority public health challenges. The plan is grouped into focus
areas devoted to a comprehensive array of diseases, conditions and
public health challenges, such as promoting exercise, reducing obesity
and discouraging tobacco use.

HHS will launch the new micro-grant initiative with a two-year pilot
project. If successful, the approach could be expanded nationally. HHS
will commit between $500,000 to $700,000 to a pilot project this year in
order to study the potential of the micro-grant approach to further the
goals of Healthy People 2010.

The money will be distributed to local, non-profit organizations -- and
coalitions of such groups -- in different geographic areas to support
programs designed to increase the quality and years of healthy life of
residents and to eliminate health disparities.

Grantees could use the money for such activities as developing
anti-smoking campaign materials for local students, coordinating
substance abuse prevention forums for parents in local schools, or other
specific projects designed to promote prevention and improve health
locally. Projects that involve coalitions of community groups may
receive preference in obtaining funds.

"The application will be easy to complete, so local groups can tap the
money quickly and then focus immediately on health prevention projects
in their communities," HHS Acting Assistant Secretary for Health Arthur
J. Lawrence said. "We anticipate that much of the process will be
handled electronically."

HHS will choose several not-for-profit organizations or groups of
organizations to recruit, review and award grant applications in
different geographic areas. Those organizations will make the decisions
about micro-grants for specific community projects in their region. A
notice published in today's Federal Register explains the application
process. HHS' Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion will
oversee the pilot project.

More information about Healthy People 2010, including a copy of the
Federal Register notice, is available at www.health.gov/healthypeople.

 The Federal Register notice for the Community Implementation Grants
Program is available at

http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/Implementation/Community/FRnotice.htm.

For further information please contact Ms. Sally Jones, Administrative
Officer, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Hubert H.
Humphrey Building Room 738-G, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20201, (202) 260-7654.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are
available at www.hhs.gov/news.

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