The Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) and its partner the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago (PHIMC) were awarded $16 million in stimulus funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (for more on this award, visit our Recovery blog.) The grant award is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Communities Putting Prevention to Work Initiative aimed at reducing obesity, increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, and decreasing smoking. To learn more about this initiative, please visit the CCDPH website. More information will be provided during an upcoming Suburban Cook County Chronic Disease Prevention Network meeting on Thursday, May 6, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to noon (location TBD).

As part of this Initiative, the CCDPH is seeking applications to the Model Communities Mini-Grant Pilot Program. This program will award grants to local governments and community organizations interested in making policy an environmental changes to support individuals and families in their efforts to lead healthy, active lives.

Please note: Anyone interested in applying to the Model Communities Mini-Grant Pilot Program is required to participate in a web conference, either on Tuesday, April 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. or Thursday, April 8 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. For information on how to register or if you have other questions, please contact Gina Massuda Barnett at 708-492-2901 or gmassud@cookcountygov.com.