CDC’s Eliminating Racial Disparities in Community Health

CDC’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program works to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities through participatory approaches. Through REACH, funded partners address a range of problems including cancer, diabetes, hepatitis B and infant mortality, and then implement new strategies for improving health in communities, healthcare settings, schools and work sites. The program, which emphasizes the importance of developing and maintaining strong coalitions to support its work, funds 50 communities and six minority-serving national organizations. “The REACH program is a cornerstone of CDC’s efforts to identify, reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities,” says Janet Collins, director for the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. It is one of many initiatives that CDC has created to enhance community health and safety.