Recipients Use of REACH Grant Funds

OBJECTIVE

The Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program, administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), awards funds to State and local health departments, tribes, universities, and community-based organizations to improve health, prevent chronic diseases, and reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic populations with the highest risk of chronic disease. In FY 2018, CDC awarded $125.5 million in REACH funds to 31 recipients for a 5-year project period beginning September 30, 2018, with 1-year awards averaging $780,000 per recipient. Grant recipients work with communities to reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic populations with the highest burden of chronic disease (e.g., heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity).The program provides culturally tailored interventions to address preventable risk behaviors, including tobacco use, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity. REACH grant recipients are required to work with one or two of the following priority populations: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Alaska Natives. Recipients are also required to work in three of the following four strategy areas-tobacco, nutrition, physical activity, and community-clinical linkages-and their accompanying activities to improve social and environmental conditions for better health in the community. We will determine whether selected REACH grant recipients used their funding in accordance with Federal requirements and grant terms. Specifically, OIG plans to audit REACH program funds awarded to the selected recipients to ensure that REACH program funds were used for their intended purposes and met the needs of priority populations.

TIMELINE

REPORT PUBLISHED