Funding Provided by the Expanding Smokefree Communities, Community Transformation Grants Program

Washington, D.C. (June 4, 2012) —

As part of the American Lung Association’s commitment to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, the organization is funding six local Lung Associations with the goal of improving health equity in populations disproportionately impacted by tobacco-related health disparities.
In September 2011, the American Lung Association National Headquarters was funded by the National Dissemination and Support Initiative of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Community Transformation Grants (CTG) Program. A total of $720,000 will be distributed to local Lung Association’s to support the following community efforts through September 2013.

American Lung Association in Arizona will work with organizations and residents representing seniors and low-income and disabled individuals residing in multi-unit housing in Maricopa County to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke
American Lung Association in Maine will conduct outreach to tribal communities in Maine to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke
American Lung Association in Nevada will address the need to increase the number of smokefree workplaces in the city of Mesquite
American Lung Association in New York will work to increase the availability of smokefree housing in the South Bronx
American Lung Association in Virginia will engage residents in southwest Virginia to promote tobacco-free school environments, which include all school property and all off-campus school-sponsored events
American Lung Association in Wisconsin will coordinate with organizations and residents to tackle the serious health consequences of tobacco use and daily exposure to second-hand smoke for residents of multi-unit housing, particularly low-income Milwaukee residents who require subsidized housing

“The American Lung Association is proud to be a part of CDC’s historic investment in prevention through the Community Transformation Grants program and is committed to implementing the CDC’s funding through targeted tobacco prevention strategies that will have the greatest impact on public health,” said Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association President and CEO. “These funds will be used to reach the most at-risk populations who are disproportionately impacted by tobacco-related illness.”
Funded chartered Lung Associations will work with targeted communities that have a population less than 500,000 to establish broad, multi-sectoral community leadership teams and pursue strategies to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.
The CDC’s “Accelerating the Spread and Reach of CTG Strategies in Communities Nationwide” Activity Area involves mobilizing national networks, like the American Lung Association, to increase the reach of the CTG program by empowering communities to implement projects proven to reduce chronic diseases such as lung disease.
“CDC congratulates all of the new community awardees that are partnering with the American Lung Association. The success of the Community Transformation Grant program is in its multi-sectorial partnerships, which maximizes community efforts to improve health where we live, work, play and learn. The American Lung Association has an excellent track record of fostering healthier communities and these new awardees will help expand access to smokefree environments. This type of local action is critical in our efforts to reduce the burden of chronic disease. We are so pleased to work with outstanding partners like the American Lung Association in our joint commitment to make healthy living easier.” – Dr. Rebecca Bunnell, Acting Director of the Division of Community Health, CDC.

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About the Expanding Smokefree Communities CTG Program Funded by the Affordable Care Act’s Prevention and Public Health Fund, the CTG Acceleration Grant funds were awarded through a competitive agreement process to three national networks (the American Lung Association, National REACH Coalition and YMCA of the USA) to support sub-awardees to engage and collaborate with other sectors to advance the goals of the CTG program nationally; disseminate CTG strategies within their national networks; and amplify and accelerate the spread and reach of the CTG program by providing small amounts of funding to local affiliates to assess the health of communities and act upon local health priorities. The CTG program is expected to run until 2016 and reach about 120 million Americans — or more than 1 in 3 U.S. citizens. To learn more, please visit www.cdc.gov/communitytransformation About the American Lung Association Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is “Fighting for Air” through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association, a Charity Navigator Four Star Charity and holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA ( 1-800-586-4872 ) or visit  www.lung.org .

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