Funded National Organizations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Arthritis Program currently provides direct funding to three organizations for arthritis activities under two competitively awarded cooperative agreements

National Organizations to Support Arthritis Programs and Policy

National Organizations to Support Arthritis Programs and Policy, CDC-RFA-DP11-1113, is a 5 year cooperative agreement that was initiated on September 30, 2011, and concludes on September 29, 2016. The purposes and intent of this cooperative agreement are to implement national strategies that enhance health, wellness, and quality of life for people with arthritis through (1) expanded dissemination and delivery of evidence-based arthritis interventions; (2) enhanced infrastructure to support and provide arthritis-specific consumer health information; (3) assistance to state health departments to expand state-based arthritis program efforts; and (4) effective policy and systems strategies to promote arthritis management and increased access to and availability of interventions, consistent with the National Arthritis Action Plan: A Public Health Strategy (NAAP) [PDF – 229KB], and A National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis (OA Agenda)[PDF – 3.3MB] .The following organizations and activities are funded under the National Organizations to Support Arthritis Programs and Policy cooperative agreement.

Arthritis Foundation

Leading the fight for the arthritis community, the Arthritis Foundation (AF) helps conquer everyday battles through life-changing information and resources, access to optimal care, advancements in science, and community connections. Learn more about the Arthritis Foundation.

Key Activities:
The AF and CDC’s Arthritis Program partner together on a variety of projects, including

Contact Information:
Bekeela Watson, MPH
Grant Manager | National Office
Arthritis Foundation
1330 W Peachtree St., NW, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-654-0085| bwatson@arthritis.org

National Association of Chronic Disease Directors

The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) is a nonprofit public health organization committed to representing and serving the needs of chronic disease program directors for state health departments throughout the United States. Learn more about NACDD.

Key Activities:
NACDD and CDC’s Arthritis Program partner together on a variety of projects, including

• Coordinating the Arthritis Council, a forum for state health department information, resources, collaboration, planning, and action associated with state-level arthritis program goals and activities.
• Collaborating with the Y-USA to increase support for and document lessons learned from nationwide dissemination of the evidence-based, arthritis-appropriate EnhanceFitness physical activity intervention.
• Partners with Medworks to explore potential mechanisms and opportunities for securing financing or other sustainable support for the implementation and delivery of  evidence-based arthritis interventions via employers, unions, insurers and medical provider organizations, and others.
• Collaborates with the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) to pilot-test and expand dissemination and deliver evidence-based arthritis interventions, such as Walk with Ease and Active Living Every Day through local parks.
• Partners with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) to develop and pilot materials and information to facilitate provider referrals to evidence-based arthritis interventions.

Contact Information:
Mari T. Brick, MA
Public Health Consultant
National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
518.542.7425 | Brick@chronicdisease.org
 

Building Capacity of the Public Health System to Improve Population Health Through National, Nonprofit Organizations

Building Capacity of the Public Health System to Improve Population Health Through National, Nonprofit Organizations, CDC-RFA-OT13-1302, is a 5 year cooperative agreement. In fiscal year 2013, CDC’s Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support (OSTLTS) announced 25 national nonprofit awards. These awardees use funding to provide guidance and technical assistance to people and organizations on the front lines of public health and strengthen national capacity to deliver public health services through public health departments and community organizations. CDC’s Arthritis Program currently funds the following organization and activities under the OSTLTS cooperative agreement.

Y-USA

The YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) is a leading nonprofit organization for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Y-USA is a powerful association of men, women, and children committed to bringing about lasting personal and social change. With a focus on nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving the nation’s health and well-being, and providing opportunities to give back and support neighbors, the Y-USA enables youths, adults, families, and communities to be healthy, confident, connected, and secure. Learn more about the Y-USA.

Key Activities:
The Y-USA and CDC’s Arthritis Program partner together to support and expand the implementation of EnhanceFitness (EF) in Y-USA locations throughout the country. As part of this effort the Y-USA incorporates activities including

• Implementing regional EF training academies and workshops.
• Mentoring and supporting EF dissemination and outreach with low income communities.
• Developing and implementing marketing materials and products to promote EF.
• Expanding seed funding to implement EF start-up and training awards.
• Maintaining a national license to offer EF.
• Implementing an online data collection system to capture and report EF. participation and program reach information.
• Developing and disseminating EF success stories.
• Adopting EF as a signature Y-USA program.

Contact Information:
Ann-Hilary Heston
Senior Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention Programs
Healthy Living Department
YMCA OF THE USA
201D Pence Street, Brooklyn, NY 11209
800-872-9622, ext. 2847 | ann-hilary.heston@ymca.net