Bloomberg American Health Initiative Awards Over $400,000 to Improve Health in Communities Across the Country

Leveraging the Power of 4-H to Support Youth Food and Nutrition Education Models for Positive Health Outcomes: Led by collaborators at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this multi-county implementation pilot will integrate health and nutrition content into ongoing 4-H programs, complete a structured assessment of the readiness and effectiveness of 4-H staff and volunteers, and build a better training protocol for replication across Wisconsin. 

Picturing Healthy Environments:  Led by the Stratford Health Department, this project aims to equip young people living in Stratford, Connecticut with the tools to become “citizen scientists” and, using Photovoice as a tool, provide them a platform to share their built environment experiences with local decision-makers to advocate for healthier environments. 

Strengthening Compliance and Financial Integrity in Community-Based Addiction Services Through the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General Self-Disclosure Program: In partnership with the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, this project will pilot a structured compliance and self-disclosure support model for community-based addiction service providers, producing practical tools and policy relevant evidence to strengthen financial integrity and protect access to care. 

Tribal Water Safety and Preparedness for Canoe Journey: The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board will adapt first aid and water safety training to support tribally led water safety and environmental health preparedness for their upcoming Canoe Journey, informed by community input and regional injury data 

Building the Coalition to Advance a Zero Youth Detention Framework for New York City: The team at the Legal Action Center aims to build a youth-focused coalition of service providers to inform advocacy efforts and co-advocate for equitable funding and policy reforms that advance a “zero youth detention” model in New York City, countering recent calls to roll back Raise the Age, and redirecting resources from law enforcement to community-based supports for youth, including substance use and mental health treatment, housing, and job training. 

Improving Police Response and Service Connections to Victims of Intimate Partner Violence with Traumatic Brain Injuries: Through a series of convenings with multidisciplinary experts, the International Association of Chiefs of Police will identify gaps and highlight promising practices to enhance police response to survivors of intimate partner violence who have sustained traumatic brain injury. 

Collaborating with Schools to Strengthen New York’s Summer EBT Program: In partnership with Hunger Solutions New York, this project aims to increase access to Summer EBT by improving program awareness, outreach, and data collection among New York’s schools 

Enhancing Continuity of Care through on-site Buprenorphine Dispensing at Jail Release: The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office will lease and install an InstyMeds automated medication dispensing machine to supply buprenorphine to detainees with opioid use disorder who are being released from the Hennepin County Jail. 

Piloting SB 224-Compliant Mental Health Education Curriculum among California School Youth: The Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc. Teen Wellness Department will pilot a six lesson California Senate Bill 224-compliant mental health curriculum, Positive Minds, with two cohorts of middle and high school youth at Coast Unified School District in San Luis Obispo County to evaluate content, process and impact, inform best practices, and advocate for evidence-based mental health education in schools. 

Celebrating 10 Years of Boulder’s Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax: Building Momentum for a Countywide Sugary Drink Tax: Boulder County Public Health will build a strategic communications and media campaign to celebrate the 10-year success of Boulder’s Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax, elevate the revenues’ impacts and community voices, and build momentum for a countywide sugar-sweetened beverage tax as a proven, health equity strategy for a healthier Boulder. 

Here When It Matters: Public Health Vending Machine Pilot for Unhoused People who Use Drugs: Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program will pilot a public health vending machine to increase access to essential health supplies for people who are unhoused and who use drugs, while assessing feasibility, acceptability, utility, and implementation lessons in an urban health care setting serving an unhoused population with complex health and social needs. 

Reducing Overdose Risk in Baltimore City Through Naloxone ONEbox Placement Throughout the Public Transit System: Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Overdose Response will continue expanding low-barrier access to naloxone throughout the Baltimore City public transit system by installing ONEboxes, which contain naloxone and facilitate digital naloxone training, in metro stations, Light Rail cars, Charm City Circulator shuttles, and buses—consistent with Baltimore City’s Overdose Response Strategic Plan for 2025-2027.  

School Nutrition Leadership Program: Balanced Menu Trainer Certification: Balanced will launch the Certified Balanced Menu Trainers program, a peer-leadership program to formally recognize school food service professionals who master the skills, knowledge, and leadership abilities to implement fiber-focused plant-forward menu changes in their own schools and train peers to do the same. 

Feed the Future: Indiana School Food Initiative: A Longer Table will convene school food leaders, administrators, and partners in Central Indiana to pilot a hands-on School Food Summit that produces best practices and shared tools, a regional farm to school action plan, and policy-relevant recommendations to strengthen school food.