REACH 2023-2028 Grantees
50 REACH grantees implement an array of programs addressing health issues among African Americans, American Indians, Hispanics/Latinos, Asian Americans, Alaska Natives, and Pacific Islanders. Below is a listing of all National REACH Grantees for 2023-2028.
Included in the listings is your Senate and Congressional representatives. We encourage you to contact your elected officials to make them aware of the work you are doing to promote health equity in your community.
Alabama
Montgomery Area Community Wellness Coalition
Geographic Locations of Work: Autauga, Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery counties
Priority Population(s): African American
Principal Investigator: Ghandi Daniels
The Montgomery Area Community Wellness Coalition (The Wellness Coalition) is continuing previous REACH work with African American communities in Autauga, Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery counties.
To help increase access to healthy foods and beverages, the Wellness Coalition is focusing their food service guidelines work on:
• Faith-based organizations
• Non-profit organizations
• Food pantries
The Wellness Coalition is also:
• Establishing health ministries that lead faith-based and community efforts in food service guidelines and physical activity.
• Working with the City of Montgomery and River Region Trails to develop safe trails that lead to everyday destinations. The goal is to improve everyone’s access to physical activity.
• Working with Baptist Healthcare to organize baby cafes that are providing free, drop-in breastfeeding supports. The goal is to improve continuity of care for breastfeeding families.
• Creating and using activities to increase awareness, confidence, demand, and access for COVID19, flu, and other recommended adult vaccines.
Senator/Representative: Tommy Tuberville Katie Britt Shomari C. Figures
The University of Alabama
Geographic Locations of Work: Tuscaloosa County
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigators: Leigh Ann Bray Drayton Janet Brown
The University of Alabama’s REACH program is:
• Working with leveraging a coalition that includes the Alabama Department of Public Health and Tuscaloosa schools and libraries.
• Working in African American and Hispanic and Latino communities in Tuscaloosa County.
• Increasing awareness and use of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs and promoting Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB). The goal is to increase access to fruits and vegetables.
• Assessing safe and accessible opportunities for physical activity.
• Using the Building Healthy Families program in school and library settings to improve nutrition and physical activity for families.
• Planning to work with Capstone College of Nursing students to increase vaccination opportunities and enhance provider partnerships. The two groups will use the Reaching Out and Valuing Everyone (ROVER) mobile clinic for these efforts.
Senator/Representative: Senator/Representative: Tommy Tuberville Katie Britt Terri Sewell
Alaska
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Geographic Locations of Work: ANTHC Anchorage campus and ANTHC tribal partner sites
Priority Population(s): Alaska Native and American Indian
Principal Investigator: Dana Diehl
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) is:
• Addressing nutrition, physical activity, tobacco cessation, and adult vaccinations for Alaska Natives and American Indians.
• Collaborating with Tribal Health Organization partner sites, the state of Alaska, and Healthy Alaskans 2030 (Alaska’s statewide health improvement plan).
• Putting into action food service guidelines and behavioral design. The goal is to improve access to healthy foods and beverages on its campus in Anchorage and at tribal partner sites.
As part of ANTHC’s vaccination work, it is conducting:
• Culturally informed community events.
• Trainings for influential community messengers.
• A messaging campaign.
ANTHC will work with tribal partner sites to improve access to produce prescriptions and conduct community design planning for physical activity projects.
Senator/Representative: Nicholas Begich III Lisa Murkowski Dan Sullivan
Arizona
Pima County Health Department
Geographic Locations of Work: Pima County
Priority Population(s): American Indian; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Kimberly Van Pelt
Pima County Health Department is:
• Continuing its REACH work to reduce chronic disease disparities among Hispanic, Latino and Native American communities.
• Partnering with the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) on food service guidelines work conducted under CDC’s State Physical Activity and Nutrition program.
• Planning to complement AZDHS’s work locally in partnership with the University of Arizona and the Tucson Medical Center.
• Partnering with federally qualified health centers, clinics, and local food banks. The goal is to expand fruit and vegetable voucher incentives and produce prescription programs.
• Engaging with tribal and community residents to review bike and pedestrian audits completed during the previous REACH cycle.
• Reaching out to Spanish-speaking home providers of child care to participate in Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC). The goals are to help improve nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding in early care and education settings, and enrollment in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Senator/Representative: Ruben Gallego Adelita Grijalva Mark Kelly
Arkansas
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Geographic Locations of Work: Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington counties
Priority Population(s): Marshallese Pacific Islander; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Krista Langston
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences REACH program is:
• Continuing its work among the Marshallese and Hispanic communities.
• Addressing food insecurity by expanding the reach of the Double Your Dollars program to purchase produce through incentive programs.
• Training community health workers to be peer lactation counselors. The training also focuses on how to provide accurate, culturally appropriate information on COVID-19, flu, and other routinely recommended adult vaccinations.
• Working to increase active transportation and connectivity.
• Trying to engage the Marshallese and Hispanic communities in using existing trails for physical activity.
Senator/Representative: John Boozman Tom Cotton French Hill
California
County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency
Geographic Locations of Work: San Diego – Mid-city and southeastern sub-regional areas (SRAs) within the central region of San Diego County and the National City SRA within the south region
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Chesley Blevins (acting)
The County of San Diego’s REACH program, guided by the Live Well San Diego community coalition, is:
• Working with the African American and Hispanic and Latino community in San Diego County.
• Implementing healthier food procurement systems to improve food service programs for vulnerable populations.
• Looking to implement California Medicaid Program reimbursements for a fruit and vegetable prescription program to improve food and nutrition security.
• Working with the San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition to identify and prioritize policy and system improvements for county-funded programs that support breastfeeding.
• Partnering with the San Diego Parks and Recreation Department to engage community members around access to public transportation and parks.
• Planning to work to address vaccine hesitancy in populations more likely to experience serious illness from COVID-19.
Senator/Representative: Doris Matsui Alejandro “Alex” Padilla Adam Schiff
Public Health Advocates
Geographic Locations of Work: Stockton
Priority Population(s): African American
Principal Investigator: Tivoli Walker (acting)
Public Health Advocate’s Within Our REACH project is:
• Continuing REACH work to engage faith and community-based organizations for African Americans in Stockton, California.
• Continuing work with food service guidelines. It is promoting fruit and vegetable vouchers at farmers markets to improve fruit and vegetable consumption.
• Working with local breastfeeding coalitions to train doulas as lactation consultants and offer safe community spaces for breastfeeding.
• Working with GirlTrek on walk audits, and they will implement Safe Spaces at schools which will be linked with Safe Routes to School.
Senator/Representative: Alejandro “Alex” Padilla Adam Schiff Mike Thompson
Colorado
The Stapleton Foundation (The Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities)
Geographic Locations of Work: Northeast Denver, Northwest Aurora
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Alisha Brown
The Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities REACH program operates under the be well Health and Wellness Initiative. Be well is:
• Working with Denver Health to provide guidance to neighborhood food pantries on the Healthy Eating Research Nutrition guidelines for charitable food systems.
• Working with Montbello Walks (a local walking club and mobile food pantry) to provide monthly pop-up food markets at be well’s Healthy Living be Ready centers.
• Promoting Double Up Food Bucks and other voucher incentive programs through these pop-up events.
• Offering a culturally tailored and adapted Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It! (MEND) program at the affordable housing complexes. MEND is a direct education intervention designed to manage overweight and obesity in children aged 2 to 13 and their families by improving health, fitness, and self-esteem.
• Planning to expand access to adult vaccinations, partnering with the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, using mobile vaccine clinics.
Senator/Representative: Michael Bennet Diana DeGette John Hickenlooper
Connecticut
City of Hartford
Geographic Locations of Work: Hartford (Frog Hollow, North Hartford)
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator Contact Information: Jessica Fourquet
The City of Hartford’s REACH program under the Hartford Healthy Families Initiative II (HHFI2) is:
• Continuing work among the Black and African American and Hispanic and Latino communities in Frog Hollow and North Hartford, Connecticut.
• Collaborating with the Department of Families, Children, and Youth to work on the Parker Memorial Center food service plan and design.
• Linking Hartford food pantries to Connecticut Foodshare to support food and nutrition security.
• Working with The Latino Way to develop messaging that highlights food service guidelines and fruit and vegetable prescription program plans.
• Training early care and education (ECE) providers on Nutrition and Physical Activity Self Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC), breastfeeding best practices, and farm to ECE to support healthy behaviors, healthy growth, and development. HHFI2 will engage community members in walk audits to inform recommendations for the city’s Complete Streets plan that will improve bike and pedestrian safety.
Senator/Representative: Richard Blumenthal John Larson Chris Murphy
Southern Connecticut State University
Geographic Locations of Work: New Haven
Priority Population(s): African American; American Indian
Principal Investigator Contact Information: Alycia Santilli
Southern Connecticut State University’s REACH program (Community Alliance for Research and Engagement) is:
• Focusing on improving health for African Americans and American Indians in New Haven.
• Training food pantry employees on Supporting Wellness at Pantries guidelines to increase access to healthy food and beverages.
• Expanding local produce prescription programs with partners such as Fair Haven Community Health Care and Wholesome Wave to improve fruit and vegetable consumption.
• Helping businesses in low-income communities by supporting worksite compliance with federal and state workplace regulations for breastfeeding.
• Bolstering culturally relevant lactation support by educating and training health care providers.
• Working with the City of New Haven Transportation Department to implement the New Haven Safe Routes for All Citywide Active Transportation Plan to increase access to physical activity for everyone.
Senator/Representative: Richard Blumenthal Rosa DeLauro Chris Murphy
District of Columbia
Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington, Inc.
Geographic Locations of Work: Asian-American communities in the DC, Maryland, Virginia metropolitan area
Priority Population(s): Asian American
Principal Investigator Contact Information: Ji Young Cho
The Korean Community Service Center’s REACH program is:
• Working to improve health among Korean and Chinese American communities in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia metropolitan area.
• Partnering with local food councils and nutrition and physical activity coalitions to assess nutrition, food security, and community design needs through its Project SHINE (Staying Healthy with Improved Nutrition and Exercise).
• Reviewing family healthy weight programs and conducting community needs surveys in churches, food pantries, community colleges, and community centers.
Senator/Representative: Donald Beyer Timothy Kaine Mark Warner
Georgia
DeKalb County Board of Health
Geographic Locations of Work: Census tracts in Atlanta, Clarkston, McNair-Cedar Grove, TuckerHenderson, Avondale-Towers-Columbia, Redan, Lithonia, and Stone Mountain-Stephenson
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator Contact Information: Sedessie Spivey
The Dekalb County REACH program is:
• Making policy, systems, and environmental changes to improve nutrition, raise awareness about adult vaccinations, and promote physical activity.
• Improving nutrition through technical assistance and training on adopting and implementing facility-level food service guidelines and procurement practices.
• Expanding the existing Fruit and Vegetable Voucher Incentive Program and Produce Prescription Program to improve fruit and vegetable consumption.
• Addressing childhood obesity through its family healthy weight program. The goal is to improve access to nutrition education, physical activity, and behavior change strategies.
• Planning to provide adult vaccines in designated communities by using mobile clinics, training trusted members of the community, and collaborating with local organizations.
• Prioritizing community design changes to make physical activity more accessible within Dekalb County.
Senator/Representative: Jon Ossoff Raphael Warnock Nikema Williams
Houston County Board of Health
Geographic Locations of Work: Baldwin, Hancock, and Washington counties
Priority Population(s): African American
Principal Investigator: Karen Ebey-Tessendorf
Houston County Board of Health is expanding its previous REACH work through the Supporting Health Initiatives and Nurturing Equity (SHINE) program to include Washington and Baldwin Counties. SHINE is:
• Working with charitable food system partners, colleges, and senior living facilities to implement healthy nutrition guidelines.
• Collaborating with local hospital systems, federally qualified health centers, and farmers markets to create produce prescription programs.
• Conducting a local/regional early childhood education (ECE) assessment and developing relationships with partners to improve nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding in ECE settings.
• Working with rural and underserved communities to complete Active People Action Plans to increase physical activity.
• Planning to conduct a vaccine hesitancy needs assessment and mobile vaccine clinics during flu season in African American communities across the counties.
Senator/Representative: Jon Ossoff Raphael Warnock Austin Scott
Morehouse School of Medicine
Geographic Locations of Work: Fulton County and Gwinnett County
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Latrice Rollins
The Morehouse School of Medicine REACH program is:
• Working with partners in the Atlanta area (local health departments, health care providers, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities) to enhance nutrition, physical activity, and adult vaccination efforts.
• Planning to implement a family healthy weight program (nutrition, physical activity, and behavior change strategies).
• Addressing chronic disease risks and health issues among Morehouse Healthcare’s Black patients through the Food as Medicine program.
• Working with partners to assess community assets and opportunities for physical activity and to equip community leaders to serve as physical activity ambassadors.
Senator/Representative: Jon Ossoff Raphael Warnock Nikema Williams
YMCA of Coastal Georgia
Geographic Locations of Work: Chatham County
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Joel Smoker
The YMCA of Coastal Georgia REACH program—Healthy Opportunities Powering Equity II—is:
• Continuing its previous REACH work in nutrition and physical activity.
• Adding promotion of breastfeeding and adult vaccinations for African Americans and Hispanics in Chatham County.
• Providing technical assistance to Second Harvest Food Bank on adopting Supporting Wellness at Pantries guidelines.
• Working with faith-based organizations on the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition program to improve physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption.
• Increasing access to healthy food and beverages by working on food service guidelines that affect City of Savannah employees.
• Supporting the promotion of connectivity with the Equitable Parks, Tide to Town, and the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail plans. The goal is to increase access to physical activity for everyone.
• Informing policy and system change for breastfeeding support through their Photovoice Project.
• Working with clinical providers and community health advocates to promote adult vaccinations.
• Collaborating with REACH, SPAN, and HOP recipients in Georgia for collective effect across all strategies.
Senator/Representative: Earl “Buddy” Carter Jon Ossoff Raphael Warnock
Hawaii
Hawaii State Department of Health
Geographic Locations of Work: Nanakuli and Waianae (Honolulu County); Hilo and North Hawaii (Hawaii County); Molokai and Kahului (Maui County), Lihue and Waimea (Kauai County)
Priority Population(s): Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
Principal Investigator: Heidi Hansen Smith [email protected]
The Hawaii State Department of Health REACH program is:
• Working with Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders in six communities spanning all four Hawaii counties.
• Reviving its Choose Healthy Now health promotion campaign to promote food service guidelines in worksites, hospitals, and other community sites.
• Coordinating implementation and expansion of produce prescription programs at federally qualified health centers in priority communities.
• Expanding the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Farmers Market pilot program.
• Planning to support implementation of quick-build projects and community walk and bike audits for active transportation and safe and accessible physical activity.
• Planning to use community-clinical linkages to promote tobacco control policies and tobacco cessation in the Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander communities.
Senator/Representative: Brian Schatz Mazi Hirono Ed Case
University of Hawaii
Geographic Locations of Work: USAPI Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, and Federated States of Micronesia
Priority Population: Pacific Islanders
Principal Investigator: Neal Palafox
The University of Hawaii’s REACH program is entitled Advancing and Sustaining Pacific Interventions to Reach Equity (ASPIRE). ASPIRE is:
• Working on policy, system, and environmental interventions for healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco prevention and control, and adult vaccination. This work is focused on Pacific Islanders in Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, and Federated States of Micronesia.
• Promoting healthy nutrition standards at local government agencies, senior centers, hospitals, afterschool programs, and early care and education centers.
• Increasing voucher and produce prescription programs at grocery stores and health care facilities.
• Working to reduce tobacco use in workplaces, schools, and where youth congregate.
• Assessing adult vaccine hesitancy and working with local partners to increase uptake of COVID19 and flu vaccines.
Senator/Representative: Brian Schatz Mazi Hirono Ed Case
Indiana
The Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County
Geographic Locations of Work: Marion County
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Sandra Cumming
The Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) is:
• Building on work to improve health for African Americans and Hispanics in Marion County.
• Implementing Healthy Eating Research Nutrition guidelines for food pantries and expanding the reach of the Double Up Indiana Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
• Working with YMCAs and health clinics to refer individuals with food insecurity and health risks for produce prescriptions.
• Aiming to increase community and employer support for women who are breastfeeding.
• Pursuing walkability and pedestrian safety policies, systems, and environmental improvements. MCPHD is engaging with schools and community partners through implementation of Safe Routes to Schools and transit projects within Marion County.
Senator/Representative: Todd Young Jim Banks André Carson
Kansas
University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute, Inc.
Geographic Locations of Work: Finney, Ford, Grant, Seward, and Kansas counties
Priority Population(s): Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Vicki Collie-Akers
The University of Kansas Medical Center REACH program is:
• Working with local health equity action teams (LHEATs) to implement REACH strategies, including breastfeeding support, for the Hispanic and Latino population in Finney, Ford, Grant, Seward, and Kansas counties. Each LHEAT is engaging with its community to choose specific strategies, review and assess the landscape, identify gaps, and select specific settings.
• Considering potential approaches to improve access to physical activity for everyone.
Senator/Representative: Jerry Moran Roger Marshall Sharice Davids
Massachusetts
Boston Public Health Commission
Geographic Locations of Work: Boston, MA (Mattapan, East Boston)
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Sonia Carter
The Boston Public Health Commission REACH program is:
• Focusing on neighborhoods in Mattapan and East Boston where many Black and Latino residents live.
• Working to improve access to healthier foods in food pantries and other food distribution sites.
• Assessing affordability of farmers markets and using the results to inform promotion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other incentive programs.
• Working with the Boston Transportation Department and the Boston Planning and Development Agency to increase community engagement for the city’s active transportation projects.
• Convening learning collaboratives in English and Spanish for early care and education (ECE) centers related to physical activity and Farm to ECE.
• Planning to work with trusted messengers to increase vaccine uptake by promoting adult vaccinations.
Senator/Representative: Edward Markey Elizabeth Warren Ayanna Pressley
City of Lawrence, MA
Geographic Locations of Work: Lawrence
Priority Population(s): Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Elecia Miller
The City of Lawrence REACH program is:
• Continuing work started by the Mayors Health Task Force to address issues facing Hispanic and Latino families.
• Working on food service guidelines and food procurement in food pantries, bodegas, and settings where food is sold or served.
• Conducting landscape and needs assessments to 1) determine the types of produce incentives and prescription programs currently available, and 2) inform Safe Routes to School and Safe
Routes to Parks and Trails action plans that will increase access to physical activity for everyone.
• Working to achieve continuity of care for breastfeeding families by implementing a Baby Friendly Café, supporting hand-off protocols during lactation care transitions, and workplace lactation accommodations.
Senator/Representative: Edward Markey Elizabeth Warren Lori Trahan
Michigan
Beaumont Health Foundation
Geographic Locations of Work: Wayne County
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino; American Indian; Arab American
Principal Investigator: Leslie Meyer
Corewell Health Equity and Community Partnerships is:
• Working with African Americans, American Indians, Arab Americans, and Hispanics and Latinos in Wayne County, Michigan.
• Working with its associated health care facilities, Corewell Health East, on healthy food service guidelines and its Prescribe Life produce prescription program to increase access to healthy food and beverages.
• Planning to collaborate with Wayne County and Detroit parks and recreation departments on community design to increase access to physical activity for everyone.
• Planning to conduct a community-wide needs assessment to refine breastfeeding continuity of care strategy priorities.
Senator/Representative: Gary Peters Hillary Scholten Elissa Slotkin
District Health Department #10
Geographic Locations of Work: In Lake County among African American and Black populations and in Newaygo and Oceana Counties among Hispanic and Latino populations
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Katie Miller
The District Health Department #10 REACH program seeks to reduce health issues in Lake County among African American and Black populations, and in Newaygo and Oceana Counties among Hispanic and Latino populations in Northwest Michigan.
The District Health Department #10 REACH program is:
• Integrating cultural food preferences into food service guidelines and procurement strategies in food pantries to improve access to healthier foods and beverages.
• Working with hospitals and food retail outlets to expand the Prescription for Health fruit and vegetable vouchers program.
• Implementing a family healthy weight program to focus on nutrition, physical activity, and behavior change strategies. Each priority county is establishing cross-sector coalitions to improve access to physical activity for everyone.
Senator/Representative: Jack Bergman Gary Peters Hillary Scholten
Greater Flint Health Coalition
Geographic Locations of Work: Flint, MI; Beecher, Clio, Montrose, Mt. Morris; Genesee County
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Nichole Smith-Anderson
The Greater Flint Health Coalition REACH program is:
• Working with multi-sector partners to improve the health status of African American and Hispanic residents in Flint and Genesee County.
• Implementing healthy nutrition standards in food pantries, expanding the capacity of the Flint Fresh Mobile Market, and increasing disease specific referrals to the Food Farmacy.
• Improving access to parks and engaging the community in neighborhood transportation plans to create access to physical activity for everyone.
• Planning to increase community breastfeeding supports by implementing Community Breastfeeding Specialist certification training.
Senator/Representative: Kristen McDonald Rivet Gary Peters Elissa Slotkin
Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, Inc.
Geographic Locations of Work: Bay Mills Indian Community, Hannahville Indian Community, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, and Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Priority Population(s): American Indian; Alaska Native
Principal Investigator: Laura Fisher
The Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan REACH program is:
• Working with the Healthy Native People Coalition and local tribal wellness coalitions to implement REACH strategies for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
• Assessing local food service programs, fruit and vegetable voucher incentive programs, and produce prescription programs to help improve access to healthier foods and beverages.
• Reviewing existing tribal government commercial tobacco use policies on tribal land, existing tribal health board commercial tobacco use screening policies, and tobacco cessation referral policies.
• Using an assessment tool that supports rural tribal settings to assess the local community design for its physical activity landscape.
• Planning to use the assessment results to select the most appropriate activities to improve health, prevent chronic diseases, and reduce health issues for everyone.
• Planning to promote local vaccine events and clinics to increase awareness, confidence, demand, and access for adult vaccines.
Senator/Representative: Jack Bergman Gary Peters Elissa Slotkin
Minnesota
Asian Media Access
Geographic Locations of Work: Phillips neighborhood, which includes Little Earth and Powderhorn Communities in Minneapolis and the West Side Neighborhood in St. Paul.
Priority Population(s): African American; American Indian; Asian American and Other Pacific Islanders; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Ange Hwang
The Asian Media Access REACH program is Project SUPPORT (Supporting Under-served through Produce Prescription, and Opportunities to Recreation-activity and Tobacco-control).
Project SUPPORT is:
• Working with African Americans, Asian American, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Hispanics in North Minneapolis and Midway St. Paul.
• Working with faith-based organizations on food service guidelines and healthy food procurement to increase access to healthy food and beverages.
• Partnering with community-based clinics to include culturally preferred foods for produce prescription programs.
• Working with multi-sectoral partners to ensure redevelopment of the former St. Paul Sears site becomes a vibrant, mixed-use community for all.
• Working within its communities to amplify awareness of tobacco control policies to reduce tobacco use and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Planning to promote COVID-19 vaccines at cultural events and clinics to increase awareness and confidence for adult vaccines.
Senator/Representative: Amy Klobuchar Ilhan Omar Tina Smith
City of Minneapolis
Geographic Locations of Work: South Minneapolis including the neighborhoods of East Phillips, Little Earth, Cedar-Riverside, and Seward; north Minneapolis including the neighborhoods of Jordan, Hawthorne, Willard-Hay, Near North, Harrison, Sumner-Glenwood, Cleveland, Folwell, McKinley, Victory, and Weber-Camden.
Priority Population(s): African American; American Indian
Principal Investigator: Jennie Meinz
The City of Minneapolis Health Department REACH program is:
• Collaborating with community organizations, health care providers, and institutions serving African Americans, East Africans, and American Indians.
• Working with clinics and hospitals to implement food service guidelines and produce prescription programs and voucher incentives that serve people who are food insecure.
• Working with neighborhoods near the planned Northside Greenway route, North Minneapolis parks, and Little Earth to address community concerns related to increasing physical activity through community design.
• Planning to provide culturally sensitive trainings and resources for continuity of care for breastfeeding families and other health care supports.
• Planning to train trusted community members on flu and COVID-19 adult vaccination outreach and education to increase vaccine confidence.
Senator/Representative: Amy Klobuchar Ilhan Omar Tina Smith
Mississippi
Mississippi Public Health Institute
Geographic Locations of Work: Jackson, Harrison, Hancock, Pearl River, Stone, and George counties
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Jacinda Roach
The Mississippi Public Health Institute REACH program is:
• Continuing its previous REACH work in nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding support for African American and Hispanic and Latino populations.
• Establishing healthy nutrition food standards and vending at local churches and early care and education (ECE) settings to improve access to healthy foods and beverages.
• Working with Feeding the Gulf Coast to conduct quarterly food distributions and promote the Green Prescription Referral program.
• Partnering with Let’s Go Gulf Coast and Heritage Trails Partnerships of Mississippi Gulf Coast to promote trail and park use through an app. This app will also provide food pantry referrals.
• Establishing breastfeeding support groups in local churches, community centers, and ECE settings.
• Promoting breastfeeding care coordination at local hospitals and clinics to help achieve continuity of care for breastfeeding families.
• Planning to work with partners and health care providers to increase vaccine messaging for COVID-19 and flu adult vaccinations for everyone.
Senator/Representative: Cindy Hyde-Smith Roger F. Wicker Michael Guest
Missouri
St. Louis Integrated Health Network
Geographic Locations of Work: St. Louis
Priority Population(s): African American
Principal Investigator: Andwele Jolly
St. Louis Integrated Health Network’s REACH program is:
• Working to improve the health of African American residents in the St. Louis Promise Zone.
• Working with partners to develop an action plan to support food service guidelines and Healthy Eating Research Guidelines for food pantries.
• Coordinating with SNAP and WIC agencies on fruit and vegetable voucher and produce prescription programs.
• Working with Trailnet to help communities develop active transportation plans.
Senator/Representative: Wesley Bell Joshua “Josh” Hawley Eric Schmitt
University of Missouri, Kansas City
Geographic Locations of Work: Kansas City
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Joseph Lightner
The University of Missouri Kansas City is:
• Implementing REACH strategies in African American and Hispanic and Latino neighborhoods in Kansas City.
• Partnering with Kansas City Healthy Kids & the Heartland Collaborative to expand SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks to make fruits and vegetables accessible.
• Focusing food service guidelines work and programming on its Eat Smart in Parks program.
• Working with Kansas City Parks & Recreation to develop Safe Routes to Parks programs in Black and Latino neighborhoods.
• Recruiting clinical partners to help implement a family healthy weight program.
Senator/Representative: Emanuel Cleaver Joshua “Josh” Hawley Eric Schmitt
Montana
Montana State University
Geographic Locations of Work: Flathead Reservation, Chippewa Cree of Rocky Boy Reservation, Assiniboine, and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation
Priority Population(s): American Indian [Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes (CSKT)], Chippewa Cree Tribes (Rocky Boy), and Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes (Fort Peck)
Principal Investigator: Kailyn Mock
The Montana State University Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Center is:
• Conducting REACH work to reduce chronic disease among indigenous populations.
• Working with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Fort Peck Tribes, Rocky Boy Reservation, and Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.
• Working with tribal community coalitions to assess culturally preferred foods to include in food guidelines and polices.
• Assessing food procurement, voucher incentive, and produce prescription programs with community input. Each tribal coalition is conducting landscape assessments and gathering community input on efforts for safe routes for pedestrians.
• Planning to be working to adapt and implement the Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It! (MEND) family healthy weight and diabetes prevention program in each community. This work will be done in partnership with the state Chronic Disease and Health Promotion Bureau.
Senator/Representative: Steve Daines Tim Sheehy Ryan Zinke
Nebraska
Creighton University
Geographic Locations of Work: Omaha; Douglas County
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Sade Kosoko-Lasaki
Creighton University’s Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity is:
• Leading its REACH program.
• Working with faith-based organizations, federally qualified health centers, 11 Omaha Housing Authority Towers (OHA), and Omaha Parks and Recreation on program activities. Creighton University certified community health workers (CHW) are being trained in all REACH strategies to disseminate information and promote activities. CHWs are assessing the food service guidelines landscape and the needs and barriers to accessing fruit and vegetable incentive and produce prescription programs.
• Using CDC’s Active Communities Tool to assess needs regarding community design for safe and accessible physical activity.
• Working with faith-based organizations and OHAs on breastfeeding support activities and using the Bridge Access Program toolkit to communicate COVID-19 vaccination needs.
Senator/Representative: Don Bacon Deb Fischer Pete Ricketts
Nevada
Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD)
Geographic Locations of Work: Clark County
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Cassius Lockett
Southern Nevada Health District is:
• Continuing REACH work in nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco control.
• Working with faith-based food pantries and regional food banks on enhancing food service guidelines.
• Partnering with the Southern Nevada Food Council to expand the Double Up Food Bucks voucher incentive program.
• Working on Safe Routes to Parks and expanding Bike Share in areas serving their priority populations.
• Promoting smoke-free policies in worksites, multi-unit housing, and higher education institutions.
Senator/Representative: Steven Horsford Catherine Cortez Masto Jacky Rosen
New Jersey
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Geographic Locations of Work: Essex, Union, Hudson, Middlesex, and Ocean counties
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Barbara Mintz
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center is:
• Working on tailored REACH strategies in Essex, Union, Hudson, Middlesex, and Ocean counties.
NBIMC will be publishing nutritional guidelines to promote healthy food procurement in food banks and pantries while valuing the cultural food preferences of the communities.
• Leveraging onsite redemption of SNAP, WIC, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers at NBIMC’s farmers market serving more than 2,000 community members.
• Focusing family healthy weight program activities on participant recruitment, retention, and community-clinical linkages and referrals.
• Working with United Way and the National Park Service to conduct move audits with local decision-makers and community members to inform community design for safe and accessible physical activity.
Senator/Representative: Cory Booker Andy Kim LaMonica McIver
New Mexico
Presbyterian Healthcare Services/Presbyterian Center for Community Health
Geographic Locations of Work: Bernalillo County: International District, South Valley, and North 4th Street corridor
Priority Population(s): American Indian; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Jennie McCary
Presbyterian Healthcare Services is:
• Continuing its REACH work in Bernalillo, New Mexico.
• Working with the Healthy Eating Work Group to increase clinical-community referral linkages to produce prescriptions, fruit and vegetable vouchers, and incentive programs.
• Working with Roadrunner Food Bank to implement the Healthy Eating Research and Supporting Wellness at Pantries nutrition guidelines for local distribution.
• Working with partners to develop and implement a family healthy weight program.
• Planning to hold community pop-up demonstrations to promote activity-friendly routes that align with the city’s Safe Routes to Parks program.
• Co-designing a vaccine resource guide for trusted messenger community meetings with New Mexico Community Health Workers Association.
Senator/Representative: Martin Heinrich Ben Ray Lujan Melanie Stansbury
New York
Bronx Health REACH/The Institute for Family Health
Geographic Locations of Work: Bronx
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Charmaine Ruddock
The Institute for Family Health’s Bronx Health REACH program is:
• Continuing to improve health outcomes for African Americans and Hispanics and Latinos living in Bronx.
• Promoting food service guidelines and healthy food procurement with food pantries, colleges and universities, and other partners.
• Working to increase participation in Health Bucks produce vouchers and its existing produce prescription program at health centers and farmers markets.
• Supporting continuity of care for breastfeeding by creating Certified Lactation Counselor training opportunities and providing hospital and community support.
• Partnering with Morrisiana WIC to help hospitals fulfill their Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding requirements.
• Promoting safe and accessible walkability around the Bronx River Greenway, Starlight Park, and the Grand Concourse.
Senator/Representative: Charles E. Schumer Kirsten E. Gillibrand Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
North Carolina
Public Health Authority of Cabarrus County
Geographic Locations of Work: Catawba, Cabarrus, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Rowan, and Union counties
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Alicia Primus
The Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA) serves as the public health authority for Cabarrus County, North Carolina.
The Cabarrus Health Alliance REACH program is:
• Training charitable food distribution staff and volunteers on implementing nutrition standards for foods purchased or accepted through donations.
• Working with local food policy councils to promote fruit and vegetable vouchers and incentives.
• Developing feasibility plans to improve access to parks, trails, greenways, and recreational facilities.
• Working with health departments, providers, and partners to implement the Standards for Adult Immunization Practice to improve adult immunization coverage.
• Planning to use similar strategies to promote adult vaccination uptake using Bridge Access Program recommendations.
• Working with community members for tobacco prevention policies.
Senator/Representative: Ted Budd Addison McDowell Thom Tillis
Ohio
Cuyahoga County Board of Health
Geographic Locations of Work: Cuyahoga County
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Nichelle Shaw
Cuyahoga County’s REACH project, Health Improvement Partnership Cuyahoga, is:
• Implementing food service guidelines in faith-based organizations and in county government buildings.
• Working with farmers markets, local food hubs, and faith-based organizations to build fruit and vegetable prescription programs.
• Using existing Farm to School approaches from Feed Our Future to build a farm to early care and educations (ECE) initiative.
• Working to engage ECEs in the Ohio Healthy Programs recognition program to improve ECE healthy policies and activities.
• Using existing Cleveland road projects to implement local bicycle and pedestrian policies and plans for safe and accessible physical activity.
Senator/Representative: Jon Husted Max Miller Bernie Moreno
Hamilton County
Geographic Locations of Work: Hamilton County
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Mary Ellen Knaebel
Hamilton County’s REACH Program is:
• Implementing activities in its Social Determinants of Health Accelerator plan.
• Conducting environmental scans to identify ways to enhance nutrition, food safety, and behavioral design.
• Conducting food security and health assessments.
• Planning to promote Produce Perks, which doubles the value of SNAP benefits when spent on fruits and vegetables.
• Working with communities to identify connections needed from existing trails or walking paths to everyday destinations.
• Engaging early care and education (ECE) providers to build healthy eating and physical activity programs. From this work, ECE providers will be eligible for local We THRIVE! Child Care program or Ohio Healthy Programs status.
Senator/Representative: Jon Husted Greg Landsman Bernie Moreno
Youngstown State University
Geographic Locations of Work: Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana County
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Nicolette Powe
Youngstown State University’s Consortium of Community Health is:
• Implementing REACH strategies in Ohio’s Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana counties to support the Guin Fit initiative.
• Assessing the community landscape to implement work toward accessible nutrition, family healthy weight programs, and Safe Routes.
• Partnering with faith-based organizations, afterschool programs, health care providers, and community partners.
Senator/Representative: Jon Husted Bernie Moreno Michael Rulli
Oklahoma
American Indian Cancer Foundation
Geographic Locations of Work: Oklahoma County
Priority Population(s): American Indian
Principal Investigator: Lindsey Petras
The American Indian Cancer Foundation supports community-based interventions to improve the health and wellness of Native communities around Oklahoma City. Its REACH coalition is the Indigenous Cancer Solutions Coalition (ICS) and involves native communities and clinics.
ICS is:
• Assessing the food service environment in municipal buildings, correctional facilities, faith-based organizations, and recreation centers.
• Obtaining community input on physical activity priorities and engaging spaces for shared use.
• Working with tribal, regional, and state partners to assess current commercial tobacco cessation efforts. This work will inform the needs related to tobacco control policy development, modification, and implementation.
Senator/Representative: Stephanie Bice James Lankford Markwayne Mullin
Oregon
Multnomah County Health Department
Geographic Locations of Work: Multnomah County
Priority Population(s): African American
Principal Investigator: Charlene McGee
Multnomah County is:
• Continuing work in nutrition, breastfeeding support, community design for physical activity, and adult vaccinations promotion.
• Enhancing food service and nutrition guidelines for Multnomah County government worksites, faith-based organizations, and food pantries.
• Developing a breastfeeding-friendly designation for health care systems, Multnomah County government, and other sites.
• Planning to monitor land use and transportation plans that affect the priority population. These efforts focus on community design for physical activity. These include the I-5 Rose Quarter Project, the West Portland Town Center, and the Oregon-funded transportation work.
• Working to reinvigorate confidence in adult vaccinations and to increase uptake of bivalent boosters.
Senator/Representative: Ron Wyden Jeff Merkley Suzanne Bonamici
Pennsylvania
Allegheny County Health Department
Geographic Locations of Work: Allegheny County
Priority Population(s): African American
Principal Investigator: James Weeden
Allegheny County Health Department is:
• Working with a coalition of community partners to carry out REACH work.
• Partnering with health care facilities to align food service guidelines and procurement with the Good Food Healthy Hospitals initiative.
• Partnering with health care and local organizations to link families experiencing food insecurity to produce prescription and incentive programs.
• Working in a REACH priority neighborhood to develop multimodal mobility planning.
• Working with breastfeeding partners to create a Clinical-Community Lactation Network to improve breastfeeding support in the Black community.
• Working with the Black Women’s Policy Center to enhance workplace policies for nursing parents.
Senator/Representative: John Fetterman Summer Lee Dave McCormick
Pennsylvania State University Hershey Medical Center
Geographic Locations of Work: Reading, Harrisburg, Lebanon, and York
Priority Population(s): Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Kraschnewski
The Pennsylvania State Hershey Medical REACH program is:
• Working on accessible healthy food, physical activity, early care and education (ECE), and vaccination.
• Working to establish local policy to enforce nutritional guidelines in Hispanic community sites across central Pennsylvania.
• Continuing work with the Farmers Market Nutrition Program and connections with SNAP and nutrition incentive programs.
• Completing the Active Communities Tool and conducting ongoing walk/move audits to start conversations on community design for physical activity.
• Enhancing ECE work to improve nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding standards with an ECE learning collaborative.
• Strengthening community-clinical linkages to bring adult vaccinations directly to communities.
Senator/Representative: John Fetterman Dave McCormick Scott Perry
South Carolina
LiveWell Greenville
Geographic Locations of Work: Greenville County
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic/Latino
Principal Investigator: Sally Wills
Project Overview: LiveWell Greenville’s REACH program is:
• Addressing the nutrition and physical activity needs of African American and Hispanic community members.
• Training food pantry partners on the Healthy Eating Research nutrition guidelines.
• Expanding the acceptance of Healthy Bucks fruit and vegetable vouchers through outreach to farmers markets and SNAP recipients.
• Collaborating with Food Security Coalition partners on a pediatric food resource navigation and produce prescription program. This work will connect families to food resources, including biweekly fresh produce boxes through FoodShare Rx.
• Working with Greenville Connects and Bike Walk Greenville on efforts for active transportation and neighborhood connectivity to public transit.
• Working with Just Say Something, a coalition partner, to promote adopting or strengthening commercial tobacco prevention and control policies.
• Working with partner organizations to increase vaccine uptake.
Senator/Representative: Lindsey Graham Tim Scott William Timmons
Tennessee
Tennessee Department of Health
Geographic Locations of Work: Shelby, Davidson, Hamilton, and Knox counties
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Tamara Chavez-Lindell
Tennessee Department of Health REACH program is:
• Working with local clinics, community- and faith-based organizations to align food pantries with charitable food guidelines.
• Connecting with WIC and SNAP programs, such as SNAP Doubling Coalition, to expand voucher redemption at farmers markets.
• Convening, assessing, and planning to support community design projects for safe and accessible physical activity.
• Working with partners to identify the best fit family healthy weight program to promote to priority populations.
• Expanding previous work that addresses COVID-19 related health issues.
Senator/Representative: Marsha Blackburn Steve Cohen Bill Hagerty
Texas
San Antonio Metropolitan Health District
Geographic Locations of Work: Bexnar county
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Anna Macnak
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District REACH program is:
• Working to improve the health of Hispanics and Latinos and African Americans. Metro Health REACH is implementing nutrition standards in pantries aligned with Healthy Eating Research Nutrition Guidelines for the Charitable Food System.
• Extending Double Up Food Bucks to Healthy Corner Stores In partnership with the Sustainable Food Center.
• Working with clinical partners to add produce prescription program referrals.
• Working with partners on walk audits to engage residents and inform local community design changes for safe and accessible physical activity.
• Partnering with Metro Health Immunizations Program, local non-profits, and faith-based organizations to build demand and confidence in adult vaccinations.
Senator/Representative: Gregorio Casar John Cornyn Ted Cruz
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Geographic Locations of Work: Hudspeth (Dell City, Desert Haven, Fort Hancock, Sierra Blanca), Reeves (Pecos), Falls (Marlin, Chilton, Rosebud, Lott), and Matagorda (Palacios) counties. Colorado, Grimes, Liberty, Limestone, and Menard counties
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Mark Faries
The Family and Community Health Unit with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is:
• Working in 13 rural counties across Texas to improve health in Black, African Americans, and Hispanic populations.
• Partnering with Feeding Texas and regional food banks to improve procurement and distribution nutrition policies.
• Working to increase mobile food access and incentive programs in these areas. Regional coordinators are working with the local municipalities to prioritize and increase active living and physical activity opportunities.
• Planning to work to increase accessibility and confidence in vaccinations.
• Planning to promote the Texas Healthy Building Blocks (THBB) statewide recognition program for ECEs.
Senator/Representative: John Cornyn Ted Cruz Michael McCaul
Virginia
Virginia Rural Health Association
Geographic Locations of Work: Danville City
Priority Population(s): African American
Principal Investigator: Beth O’Connor
The Virginia Rural Health Association REACH program is:
• Working with faith-based food pantries and in YMCA afterschool programs to improve nutrition access. These efforts are focused on aligning programs with the Healthy Eating Research Nutrition Guidelines for the Charitable Food System.
• Working with partners such as Birth in Color and the Danville Maternal Health Taskforce to improve support for breastfeeding.
• Developing an action plan for the Almagro neighborhood focused on accessibility to the Riverwalk Trail for increased access to physical activity.
Senator/Representative: Morgan Griffith Timothy “Tim” Kaine Mark Warner
Washington
Seattle-King County Public Health Department
Geographic Locations of Work: Beacon Hill, Georgetown, South Park, Highline, SeaTac, Tukwila, Kent, Renton, and Auburn
Priority Population(s): African American; Hispanic and Latino
Principal Investigator: Nadine Chan
Seattle-King County REACH Program is:
• Continuing its REACH work with African American, African-born and Hispanic and Latino residents.
• Implementing nutrition standards in food banks.
• Recruiting and supporting Hispanic and Latino distributors, farmers, and grocers to make culturally tailored foods accessible.
• Developing food incentive and produce prescription programs at farmers markets and through culturally tailored peer-to-peer outreach.
• Building support for family healthy weight programs among community-based organizations.
• Planning to engage community members in planning and designing active transportation projects in their neighborhoods.
Senator/Representative: Patty Murray Maria Cantwell Pramila Jayapal