Friday, September 13, 2024
9/13/2024
RI Department of Health’s Healthy Eating and Active Living program (HEAL) is located at 3 Capitol Hill in Providence, RI. HEAL will utilize CDC-RFA-DP-23-0012 to build upon accomplishments achieved in DP13-1305 and DP14-1422, and over the last five years. HEAL serves the entire State with the goal of educating the public and implementing policy, systems and environmental changes to create supportive, equitable environments where all RIers can access healthy food, be physically active, and breastfeed. In the wake of COVID-19, economic and social disruption, pre-existing disparities in food access, physical activity and breastfeeding have been exacerbated, with RI’s Blacks and Hispanics being disproportionately impacted. Nutrition insecurity rose among all households from 2017-2019, but a significant disparity exists among racial and ethnic minority households with 43.2% of Black and 46.6% of Hispanic households reporting food insecurity vs. 25.9% of White households. Those in poverty are disproportionately food insecure. In 2021, 26.8% of adults <400% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) reported being worried about affording nutritious meals, compared to 8.8% of adults living >400% FPL. Racial and ethnic Disparities exist for physical activity, with Blacks and Hispanics disproportionally report being physically inactive when compared to Whites (30.0% vs. 40.4% vs. 20.3%, respectively). Disparities also follow socioeconomic lines, with 32.2% of adults <400% FPL reporting physical activity as compared to 18.2% of adults >400% FPL. One of the most integral factors influencing the health of children in RI is breastfeeding. According to CDC birth certificate data from 2018-2019, breastfeeding initiation varies across RI counties with Providence, our most populous and racially diverse county achieving the lowest rate in the state at 64.3%. HEAL has identified Black and Hispanic RIers as its target population, with an additional focus on individuals living <400% FPL. HEAL will address the prevention of chronic disease within priority populations by: 1) convening an Institutional Procurement Working Group to conduct a needs assessment and feasibility study for the development of food procurement and food service operations guidance with institutions that serve priority populations 2) co-leading an education campaign to codify RI’s Fruit and Vegetable Incentive and Produce Prescription Programs 3) establishing coverage for produce prescriptions 4) leading statewide Complete Street demonstration and education programs with the goal of increasing access to physical activity and safe recreation spaces through active and public transportation 5) working with state agencies to implement existing comprehensive statewide plans to enhance public transit infrastructure and the built environment to encourage active transportation 6) working across state agencies to expand the lactation workforce, improving worksite breastfeeding policy reflecting state laws, and increasing enrollment in WIC breastfeeding education and 7) leading efforts to update standards within Early Care and Education licensing to increase physical activity and improve nutrition options, including Farm to ECE. This approach will lead to the following outcomes by the end of the project period:1) Increased access to healthier foods 2) Increased policies, plans, or community design changes that increase access to physical activity 3) Increased access to programs that provide continuity of care for breastfeeding families 4) Increased state level ECE policies and activities that improve nutrition, PA, and BF standards and Farm to ECE 5) Increased purchasing and distribution of healthier foods 6) Increased access via public transit and active transportation to safe recreation spaces 7) Increased breastfeeding 8) Increased ECE programs meeting nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding standards met and with integration of Farm to ECE.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
