Kagen Helps Secure Investment in Wisconsin’s Future

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 5, 2010

KAGEN HELPS SECURE INVESTMENT IN WISCONSIN’S FUTURE

Over $4.7 million in grants target prevention and wellness in Wisconsin communities

APPLETON, WI- Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. is working toward a better future for all of us.  Kagen applauded the announcement today of over $4.7 million in grants awarded to the state of Wisconsin to support public health efforts by U.S. Heath and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius.

The grants, funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which Kagen supported, are part of an initiative to reduce obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and decrease smoking-the four most important actions for combating chronic diseases and promoting health. 

“I’m proud to have played an important role in bringing our tax dollars back here to Wisconsin,” said Dr. Kagen.  “These grants are an important investment in the health of our economy and our children.”

Awards, part of Communities Putting Prevention to Work, will focus on efforts to help communities and schools support healthy choices through a variety of methods including using media to support healthy food and beverage choices and increased physical activity, and increasing access to healthy choices and safe places to be active.

Awards to Wisconsin were in three categories:

1. Competitive special policy and environmental change. Wisconsin received the maximum grant amount of $3 million to pilot changes in schools and childcare settings across the state and use evaluation results and successes to educate statewide legislative action and achieve state-level policy change in schools and childcare settings to promote physical activity and prevent childhood obesity.

2. Statewide policy and environmental change.  Wisconsin received $862,797 in funding for efforts in nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco control. 

3. Tobacco cessation through quitlines and media. Center for Disease and Control awarded Wisconsin $870,403 in funding to expand tobacco quit-lines in concert with expanded cessation media campaigns.

To learn more about Communities Putting Prevention to Work, visit http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/recovery.

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