Washington State Department of Health (DOH) proposes to implement and evaluate evidence-based and best practice strategies in response to NOFO DP-23-0004. DOH requests $1,052,352 for the first year of this five-year project to improve the health of Washington residents by preventing and managing cardiovascular disease in communities with the highest burden. This work builds upon the accomplishments and outcomes produced through our implementation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s CDC-RFA-DP18-1815 and CDC-RFA-DP18-1817 funded projects.
Washington has significant health disparities related to heart disease, stroke, and hypertension. Specific populations in WA are at a much higher risk of having multiple chronic health conditions. Inequitable access to health services, resources, and supportive community systems has escalated cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease in Washington continues to be serious, common, and costly. DOH has been working cooperatively with CDC to address diabetes management since 1979. Over time, Washington also has added CDC funding to address heart disease and stroke prevention. Together, these funding streams have enabled DOH’s Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes Prevention Program (HDSDP) to work purposefully and intentionally with health systems, Community Health Workers (CHWs), and community-based organizations to implement chronic disease prevention and health promotion programs with measurable reach and impact, with a particular emphasis on high-burden communities. We will be partnering with organizations that have successfully worked with higher-risk populations in urban, rural, and frontier locations.
While the state has made substantial progress, much work remains to be done. Our proposal builds on the lessons learned by implementing coordinated and comprehensive models intended to maximize federal, state, and local investments. Through this funding opportunity, DOH will increase the availability of and access to evidence-based programs known to prevent cardiovascular disease and implement activities to improve systems of care to include addressing the social services and supports that pose barriers to accessing evidence-based services. The strategies are anticipated to lead to improvements in the short-term, immediate, and long-term health outcomes, in particular with regard to improving hypertension control, within our most at-risk populations.