Work with regional partners will include strengthening the clinical and community infrastructure and workforce, among other goals
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has awarded the Health Federation of Philadelphia (HFP) approximately $4.5 million over five years ($900,000 annually) for an initiative that aims to decrease the risk for Type 2 diabetes among adults with prediabetes and improve self-care practices, quality of care, and early detection of complications among people with diabetes. In addition, the funding will support the implementation of evidence-based, family-centered childhood obesity interventions as a Type 2 diabetes risk reduction strategy.
Partners in the project include three Federally Qualified Health Centers in the Philadelphia region — Ambulatory Health Services of the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health, Delaware Valley Community Health, and Esperanza Health Center — and a Community Development Corporation, New Kensington CDC.
“Central to all work supported under this funding initiative is the goal of reducing health disparities for priority populations,” Suzanne Cohen, the Senior Director of Population Health at HFP, said. “As one of only 22 organizations in the United States — and the only one in Pennsylvania — to receive this type of award, HFP recognizes how vital this initiative is to helping vulnerable Black and Hispanic individuals in our community.”
The initiative will utilize evidence-based approaches to reduce risk for diabetes in adults and children and to improve care for individuals already diagnosed with diabetes. With a combination of healthcare-system and community-based approaches, the partners aim to strengthen the clinical and community infrastructure and workforce, strategically utilize technology, and invest in evidence-based prevention programs.
“We are so glad to be able to work alongside the Health Federation of Philadelphia, Delaware Valley Community Health, the City of Philadelphia Ambulatory Health Services, and the New Kensington CDC to connect with the people of North Philadelphia in comprehensive efforts to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes that is so prevalent,” Susan Post, the Executive Director of Esperanza Health Center, said. “It will take a village working together, alongside the community, to address this health disparity in North Philadelphia. Together, we can do this.”
The funding project is titled “CDC-RFAP-DP23-0020 A Strategic Approach to Advancing Health Equity for Priority Populations with or at Risk for Diabetes (Component B).” In the future, HFP hopes to utilize lessons learned with the initial collaborating partners to scale and spread the work across their FQHC network in southeastern Pennsylvania and throughout the Commonwealth.
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