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PREVENTIVE HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT APPROPRIATIONS

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Preventive Health and Helath Services Block Grant is currently funded at $____ million. In FY 2000, the Block Grant funding was cut by $15 million from $150 million to the current $135 million level.

We support a FY2002 appropriation of $210 million for the Preventive Health and Helath Services Block Grant. This figure represents a restoration of the $15 million cut sustained last year, plus a $60 million enhancement to address the fact that the block grant has received only modest increases since its inception, with no realistic adjustments to reflect the increasing preventive health service needs of the nation.

Basic Facts About Preventive Health & Health Services Block Grant

The Block Grant was established in 1982 to help states and local communities focus on achieving the Health Objectives for the nation, identified in Healthy People 2000.

States receiving block grant dollars must develop health plans, report to the federal government about their activities, and target public health interventions to populations in need. The flexible provisions of the grant allow each state to address health problems unique to that state.

Examples of current funding areas include emergency epidemic response, chronic disease prevention and health promotion, emergency medical services, environmental health, infectious disease control, rape prevention, injury prevention, and disease and risk factor surveillance.

Preventive Health & Health Services Block Grant Programs

Through the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant, CDC provides states funding to carry out programs aimed at reducing preventable morbidity and mortality, and at improving quality of life. Grantees are given flexibility in deciding how funding can be used to meet each state’s unique preventive health service priorities. Funds may be used for activities consistent with achieving the health objectives for the nation, as well as for the community fluoridation efforts, control of rodents, emergency medical services systems, and sex offense prevention and services programs.

Many states have used this block grant funding to address unanticipated public health emergencies, such as outbreaks of deadly E. coli disease, as well as to implement cardiovascular disease prevention programs, injury prevention activities (child safety seat and bicycle helmet programs), and critical public health education programs designed to deter youth tobacco use and underage drinking, as well as to promote good nutrition and increased physical activity.

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