Washington, D.C., June 18, 2008- The American Public Health Association (APHA) today awarded mini-grants to 13 affiliated state public health associations in the second round of funding for APHA’s Affiliate Capacity-Building Initiative.
The grant recipients include: Alaska Public Health Association, Delaware Public Health Association, Florida Public Health Association, Georgia Public Health Association, Hawaii Public Health Association, Kentucky Public Health Association, Louisiana Public Health Association, Maryland Public Health Association, Missouri Public Health Association, Nevada Public Health Association, New Jersey Public Health Association, Public Health Association of Nebraska and Wyoming Public Health Association. All are state Affiliates of APHA.
“Our nation’s ability to identify, prevent and respond to public health threats depends on the collective actions of public, private and voluntary agencies and our Affiliates are a vital part of that network,” said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E), executive director of APHA. “The funds will help build up the infrastructure and capacity of the Affiliates, which in turn will strengthen and enhance the capability of the public health community.”
The awards were made possible thanks to a $165,000 grant from the Pfizer Public Health Group. Grant recipients may use this money for member recruitment; public health activities to benefit the community and Affiliate activities; and strategic or business plan development.
“We thank Pfizer Public Health Group for their generous support of this crucial project,” said Benjamin.
The mini-grants are part of the larger APHA Affiliate Capacity-Building Initiative, which delivers financial and technical resources to APHA state and regional Affiliates over five years. The initiative supports Affiliates to improve their leadership, management, programs and services, and to improve their ability to engage their communities in responding to new and emerging public health threats such as pandemic flu or other emerging infectious disease.