Eight Local Public Health Departments Selected to Address Cognitive Health and Dementia
CHICAGO, IL, September 15, 2021 — The Alzheimer’s Association and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) have announced the inaugural cohort of the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map Strategists. The first nation-wide effort focused on addressing dementia at the local level, the Road Map Strategist Initiative will increase eight local public health departments’ capacity to address cognitive health and dementia in their communities.
“Public health officials can play a vital role in education and awareness and implement effective Alzheimer’s interventions including increasing early detection and diagnosis, reducing risk and preventing avoidable hospitalizations. The addition of these new Strategists will improve health outcomes and optimize the health and well-being of people living with dementia and their caregivers,” said Matthew Baumgart, vice president of Health Policy, Alzheimer’s Association.
The local public health departments selected are:
- Placer County Public Health Division — California
- Tri-County Health Department — Colorado
- Florida Department of Health in Nassau County — Florida
- Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County — Florida
- Baltimore City Health Department — Maryland
- Framingham Department of Public Health — Massachusetts
- Summit County Public Health — Ohio
- Public Health — Seattle & King County — Washington
The grantees will designate a part-time HBI Road Map Strategist, a public health official working in support and coordination with public health partners, including health systems. With support and guidance from the Alzheimer’s Association and NACCHO, Road Map Strategists will conduct a public health needs assessment, train local health officials and key community partners, and lead implementation of public health action on dementia, informed by guidance from the
State and Local Public Health Partnerships to Address Dementia:, The 2018-2023 Road Map.
“We are excited for this opportunity to build the capacity of our local health department members and their partners to address the burden and disparities related to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. As Community Chief Health Strategists, local health departments are poised to leverage their expertise, data, and role as a convener of cross-sectoral partnership to improve health in such a critical area,” said Peter L. Holtgrave, MA, MPH, senior director of public health infrastructure and systems, NACCHO.
The Road Map Strategists are funded by the HBI, a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Alzheimer’s Association. The HBI has been a catalyst for securing collection of state data on Alzheimer’s-related issues, developing Public Health Road Maps to guide public health agencies in addressing Alzheimer’s, and developing the first public health curriculum on Alzheimer’s for public health students and professionals. Previous efforts have focused primarily at the state and tribal level. The inaugural cohort of the HBI Road Map Strategists is the next important step to address Alzheimer’s and cognitive health through public health intervention at the local level.
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. For more information, visit www.alz.org or call the 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the nation’s nearly 3,000 local governmental health departments. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information about NACCHO, please visit naccho.org.