The DC Department of Health (DOH) announced $1 million dollars will fund four different organizations dedicated to wellness and health promotion initiatives in the District. The grants are part of the DOH initiative Live Well DC, an interagency effort to create a holistic approach to health and wellness for the District, by targeting individual behaviors that result in poor health outcomes.
The organizations were chosen based on the quality of their proposed plans to help improve the health and well-being of District residents. Applicants’ proposals addressed how to improve the impact of healthcare centers and how to promote wellness outside of a clinical setting in the District. Grant funding was provided by the Community Health Care Financing Fund, which is administered by DOH. The Community Health Care Financing Fund was created from the sale of bonds backed by the District’s share of the settlement between the states and the tobacco companies.
“The Department of Health is excited to fund projects that impact the daily behaviors that can lead to an early death,” said DOH Director Dr. Pierre Vigilance. “Partnering with these organizations will improve health outcomes and the quality of life for District residents by helping them stop tobacco use, increase regular physical activity and choose good nutrition.”
The awardees and their programs are:
- United Way - National Capitol Area was awarded up to $225,000 for its proposal to bring fitness classes and nutrition education to twelve recreation and community centers located in each of the District’s eight Wards.
- Spanish Catholic Center of Catholic Charities was awarded up to $250,000 for proposing to improve health outcomes by reducing cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, nutrition and obesity among Hispanic immigrant populations residing in and around Ward 1.
- Mautner Project was selected based on their proposal to provide health advocacy services such as weight loss, exercise, nutrition and education to lesbian and bisexual women in the District and will receive up to $250,000 worth of funding.
- La Clinica del Pueblo was awarded $275,000 to assess the needs of the Latino community and determine the current level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors towards nutrition, fitness and stress management. The data gathered from the assessments will be used to address barriers and improve the efficiency of health fair messaging.
The funds awarded are intended to maximize the impact and use of primary health care centers through outreach, referral, and other initiatives, and to promote wellness through exercise, better nutrition and other healthy steps.