North Central Health District

North Central Health District Receives Funding to Improve Health and Prevent Chronic Disease in Baldwin, Hancock and Washington Counties

Posted October 24, 2023 by Michael Hokanson

SHINE Program Aims to Address Health Disparities and Promote Collaboration

North Central Health District (NCHD) received $1,021,899 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the first year in the five-year Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) cooperative agreement. The REACH funding will allow NCHD to start the Supporting Health Initiatives & Nurturing Equity (SHINE) Program with the goal of improving health, preventing chronic diseases, and reducing health disparities among the African American population in Baldwin, Hancock and Washington Counties.

“I am excited to work in the communities of Baldwin, Hancock, and Washington counties to address and support the needs of the community through the implementation of the SHINE Program,” said Alicia Wright, SHINE Program Manager. “This is a big step forward to improving community health.”

Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke are among the most common causes of illness, disability, and death in the United States. They are also leading drivers of the nation’s $4.1 trillion in annual health care costs. These chronic conditions—and the factors that lead to them—are more common or severe for some racial and ethnic groups. NCHD’s SHINE Program will work with partners and local coalitions to enhance existing resources, address health needs, and reduce health disparities in Baldwin, Hancock and Washington Counties.

“We are delighted that NCHD has been awarded funding from CDC’s REACH initiative,” said Cynthia Ward-Edwards, Baldwin County Family Connections Executive Director. “This funding represents a significant step forward in our mission to improve the health and well-being of the people in Baldwin County. We are excited to work together with our partners to make a lasting impact on the health and equity of our community.”

During the current funding period, CDC’s REACH funding has been awarded to 41 communities across 27 states and the District of Columbia. The funding is designed to help organizations plan and carry out local, culturally appropriate programs to address various health issues among racial and ethnic minority groups. REACH’s goal is to improve health where people live, learn, work and play.

As one of 41 REACH recipients, NCHD will implement these proven public health strategies:

• Healthy food choices easier everywhere—promoting food service and nutrition guidelines, expanding fruit and vegetable voucher incentive and/or produce prescription programs.
• Safe and accessible physical activity—connecting pedestrian, bicycle, or transit transportation networks to everyday destinations.
• Early care and education (ECE) settings—improving nutrition and physical activity and increasing breastfeeding.
• COVID-19, flu, and other routine vaccines—increasing awareness, confidence, demand, and access to routinely recommended adult vaccines, for racial and ethnic groups experiencing disparities in immunization, including uninsured adults.

“North Central Health District is proud to be a recipient of CDC’s REACH funding, and we know that the SHINE Program will improve the efforts and reach of public health within each of the three counties served,” said Dr. Thomas Craft, NCHD Interim District Health Director. “All of us are looking forward to seeing the partnerships, projects and impacts of this initiative.

A complete list of CDC’s REACH recipients and additional information can be found on the CDC REACH website. For more information on NCHD’s SHINE Program, or to sign up as a partner with the program, visit NCHD52.org/SHINE.