FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 30, 1999
Contact: CDC, Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

CDC awards funding to community coalitions for projects to help eliminate racial and ethnic Health disparities

Surgeon General David Satcher today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will award $9.4 million to community coalitions in 18 states to help address racial and ethnic disparities in the United States.

"The President has committed the nation to an ambitious goal by the year 2010: eliminate the disparities in health status experienced by racial and ethnic minority populations, while continuing the progress we have made in improving the overall health of the American people," said Dr. Satcher. "These awards are part of the Administration's initiative to support community-based programs that are effective in reaching and serving these affected communities."

The awards are a component of CDC's new initiative, "Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH 2010)," a demonstration project that targets six health priority areas: infant mortality, improving breast and cervical cancer screening and management, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, improving child and/or adult immunization levels and HIV/AIDS. President Clinton has set a national goal of eliminating, by the year 2010, longstanding disparities in health status that affect racial and ethnic minorities, and the Department of Health and Human Services is guiding this initiative.

"These awards will put funds into the hands of frontline leaders and minority health organizations without delay to build on the progress we've already made in reducing racial and ethnic health disparities," HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala said. "With this money, we are helping local communities marshal the resources and fund the programs they need to close the health disparities gap--to the benefit of all."

A total of 32 community coalitions will receive funding, and three additional community coalitions will be funded by the California Endowment to participate in REACH 2010. Grantees will spend the first year planning and developing activities to reduce the level of disparity in one or more of the priority areas. The following year, all of these organizations will compete for funding to implement these plans utilizing clearly defined interventions in a geographically defined minority population. The populations include African American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander.

"CDC works to end racial and ethnic health disparities by partnering with diverse communities in research and intervention programs," said Jeffrey P. Koplan, M.D., M.P.H., Director, CDC. "REACH 2010 makes an important contribution to our commitment to eliminate all disparities in the next century."

The elimination of health disparities will require a national effort--public and private sector, individuals, and communities. A better understanding of the relationships between health status and different racial and ethnic minority backgrounds will require working more closely with communities to identify culturally-sensitive implementation strategies.

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