RACIAL DISPARITIES: CDC Awards $9.4M in Funds to Combat

      Surgeon General David Satcher announced on Thursday that the CDC will award $9.4 million to community coalitions in 18 states to help address racial and ethnic health disparities in the United States. "The President has committed the nation to an ambitious goal by the year 2010: eliminate the disparities in health status experienced by racial and ethnic minority populations, while continuing the progress we have made in improving the overall health of the American people," Satcher said. A total of 32 communities will be awarded funds for the "Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH 2010) -- a program targeting six health areas: infant mortality, improving breast and cervical cancer screening and management, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, improving child and/or adult immunization level and HIV/AIDS. Three additional community coalitions will be funded by the California Endowment. Grantees will spend the first year planning and developing activities to reduce the level of disparity in one or more of the priority areas. The following year, the organizations will compete for funding to implement their plans utilizing clearly defined interventions in a geographically defined minority population. Populations targeted will include African Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders. HHS Secretary Donna Shalala said, "These awards will put funds into the hands of frontline leaders and minority health organizations without delay to build on the progress we've already made in reducing racial and ethnic health disparities" (CDC release, 9/30).