Closing the Gap with Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Plans

For programmatic or technical questions:
Tchernavia Gregory
770.488.5395
SDOHAccelerator@cdc.gov

For grants management or budget questions:
Pamela Render
770.488.2712
plr3@cdc.gov

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will provide funding to collaborate with multi-sectoral partners to develop an implementation-ready Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Accelerator Plan to reduce disparities in health outcomes related to chronic disease in communities, catchment areas, or tribal jurisdictions.

This program addresses the public health needs of populations that are affected by disparities related to chronic disease and related risk factors, which includes socially, economically, geographically, and environmentally disadvantaged groups and populations.

SDOH priority areas include:

• Built environment - A healthy built environment that facilitates access to transportation and physical resources that enhance quality of life, minimizes exposures to environmental contaminants, and supports physical activity, safe and accessible recreation, and other protective factors that improve chronic disease outcomes. Activities may include:
  • Collaborate with key partners and allies to create and promote activity-friendly, safe routes to everyday destinations
  • Develop systems to provide reliable and affordable transportation for essential workers and disadvantaged populations
• Community-clinical linkages - Effective community-clinical linkages that improve chronic disease outcomes by increasing access to and utilization of preventive services in local communities. Activities may include:
  • Provide assistance with disease management
  • Strengthen access to preventive services
  • Promote clinical fruit/vegetable and physical activity prescription programs
  • Strengthen community-clinical collaborations for achieving healthy weight
  • Implement clinical linkages to nutrition assistance programs
• Food and nutrition - Enhancing durable access to and routine consumption of adequate, nutritious food that supports overall health, reduces morbidity and mortality associated with chronic disease, and decreases healthcare utilization. Activities may include:
  • Equitably increase durable access to quality fruits and vegetables
  • Increase acceptance of food assistance and nutrition incentive vouchers in communities that lack equitable access to healthy food
  • Implement healthy food service guidelines at institutions
  • Implement nutrition guidelines and environmental supports for food banks and pantries that account for the cultural preferences of people in the community
• Social connectedness - Increases the likelihood of individuals engaging in positive health behaviors, ultimately improving chronic disease outcomes by moderating the negative health effects of psychological adversities such as stress, trauma, adversity, anxiety, and depression. Activities may include:
  • Identify community led social activities and support services that encourage personal interaction, connectedness to community, and a sense of identity and belonging
  • Implement new or improved community strategies that emphasize and integrate social support services and activities for older adults and other populations at higher risk for social isolation
  • Promote participation in low cost or free volunteer programs, walking groups, book clubs, and other community activities that support safe and healthy social activity
• Tobacco free policies - Commercial tobacco-free policies that reduce tobacco initiation and use, promote commercial tobacco cessation, and protect people from exposure to commercial tobacco products and secondhand smoke. Activities may include:
  • Implement commercial tobacco-free policies within worksites and multi-unit housing
  • Implement healthcare system screening for commercial tobacco use, quit advice, and providing comprehensive resources for counseling and medications
  • Implement community-based culturally-appropriate messages
  • Decrease exposure to commercial tobacco marketing and access to commercial tobacco products

Eligible applicants include:

• State, county, city, and special district governments or their bona fide agents, including the District of Columbia
• Federally and state-recognized tribal governments
• Territorial governments or their bona fide agents in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau
• American Indian or Alaska Native tribally designated organizations

Award ceiling: $125,000
Project period: 1 year
Estimated number of awards: 15
Estimated total program funding: $1,875,000

Links to the full announcement and online application process are available through grants.gov. The application instructions will be found on the related documents tab.

While not required, potential applicants are encouraged to email a letter of intent to Tchernavia Gregory by June 12, 2023.