Colorado state physical activity and nutrition program - the colorado department of public health and environment (cdphe), located at 4300 cherry creek drive south, denver, colorado, 80246, is…

Colorado state physical activity and nutrition program - the colorado department of public health and environment (cdphe), located at 4300 cherry creek drive south, denver, colorado, 80246, is submitting this response to CDC's funding opportunity, CDC-RFA-DP-23-0012. Despite colorado's consistently high rankings among the healthiest states, there are substantial health inequities within specific geographic and demographic communities. Changing the factors which elevate the risks of developing chronic conditions will take time. Cdphe, in alignment with the chronic disease state plan, will leverage partnerships and funding to improve access to healthier foods, increase access to physical activity, increase breastfeeding continuity of care, and integrate nutrition, physical activity and breastfeeding standards into statewide early care and education (ECE) systems. Cdphe will accelerate progress toward health equity by collaborating with multiple sectors and stakeholders to address health disparities and structural inequities related to poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and/or obesity by focusing on statewide and local evidence-based strategies, policies and activities. Cdphe is prepared to quickly advance these strategies by building upon the successful implementation of the CDC's DP18-1807 state physical activity and nutrition program and DP13-1305 chronic disease and school health cooperative agreements to improve the nutrition and physical activity status of coloradans experiencing health disparities by maximizing existing coalitions, expanding partnerships, and leveraging resources to maximize reach and impact. This includes focusing efforts on priority populations and geographic areas identified through statewide disease and risk factor burden data and recent needs assessments; utilizing cdphe's organizational capacity, skills, and experience to successfully implement the strategies and activities identified; leveraging strong collaborations with programs and organizations for effective implementation; and utilizing a strong evaluation and performance measurement plan to ensure requirements are fulfilled in an effective, impactful manner. Cdphe will increase the number of state level policies and activities resulting in: 1) the implementation of nutrition guidelines and coordinated uptake/expansion of produce voucher/incentive/prescription programs; 2) policies, plans or community design changes that increase access to physical activity; 3) breastfeeding supportive policies and practices; and 4) policies and practices integrated in state standards related to nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding, and farm to ECE. These efforts will result in the following outcomes: 1) increased access to, and purchasing and distribution of healthier foods; 2) increased safe and connected access to places for physical activity; 3) increased breastfeeding initiation and duration; and 4) increased ECE programs meeting nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding, and farm to ECE standards. By the award's conclusion, cdphe will achieve state-level impact for all strategies, ultimately resulting in coloradans experiencing improved health behaviors and outcomes, and reduced health disparities and inequities in chronic conditions.