Fight Alzheimer’s Into 2026 and Beyond
Fight Alzheimer’s Into 2026 and Beyond
Don’t miss your chance to make a generous gift to our 2026 Annual Fund Drive to help fund essential care and support and advance critical Alzheimer’s research.
Give MonthlyAlzheimer’s Association Selects 16 Health Departments and Tribal Organizations for Healthy Brain Initiative Programs
— Awardees will lead community-based strategies to promote brain health and respond to growing dementia-related needs —
CHICAGO, Jan. 28, 2026 — Following a competitive application process, the Alzheimer’s Association is awarding 16 local health departments and Tribal health organizations for the next cohort of the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map Strategist and Road Map Champion Programs. Totaling $800,000, these awards strengthen local and Tribal public health capacity to address brain health, dementia and caregiving. Over the past four years, the Alzheimer’s Association has awarded 51 local health departments and Tribal health organizations as part of these programs.
Through the HBI Road Map Strategist and Champion Programs, awardees receive funding, education, peer support and technical assistance to implement a public health approach to dementia. Both programs are grounded in the HBI Road Map Series, expertly developed guidance for integrating action on dementia into public health practice.
Across both programs, participating organizations designate a public health leader to serve as a Strategist or Champion. These professionals work to embed dementia into public health by assessing community strengths and needs, building partnerships, expanding organizational capacity, and sharing dementia-related knowledge and information. Strategists and Champions also develop and implement an action plan built from the HBI Road Map Series, tailored to their local community.
“The HBI Road Map Strategist and Champion Programs advance dementia as a national public health priority while honoring the unique strengths, needs and culture of local communities,” said John Shean, MPH, director of the Healthy Brain Initiative. “The Alzheimer’s Association congratulates this year’s awardees and we’re excited to collaborate with all these organizations to promote brain health, address cognitive impairment and meet the needs of caregivers in their communities.”
2026 Cohort
Selected from more than 50 applicants, the 2026 Road Map Strategists and Champions represent the diversity of communities across the country. This year’s awardees are:
- Alameda County Public Health Department (CA)
- Aleut Community of St. Paul Island (AK)
- Austin Public Health (TX)
- City of Laredo Public Health Department (TX)
- Fairfield County Health Department (OH)
- Franklin County Health Department (KY)
- Multnomah County Health Department (OR)
- New Orleans Health Department (LA)
- Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah (UT)
- Southern Nevada Health District (NV)
- Southern Ute Indian Tribe (CO)
- Southwest District Health (ID)
- Wadena County Public Health (MN)
- Waterbury Health Department (CT)
- Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System (NE)
- Yavapai County Community Health Services (AZ)
The HBI Road Map Champion Program is designed to build expertise and capacity among Tribally-led health programs and urban Indian organizations by implementing community-driven public health action grounded in Indigenous knowledge, guided by the HBI Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples. Led by the Alzheimer’s Association in partnership with North Dakota State University's American Indian Public Health Resource Center, this will be the second cohort.
“Dementia is a national public health challenge, but solutions must be local,” Shean said. “These programs empower health departments and Tribal organizations to lead community‑driven strategies that improve brain health and quality of life.”
The Healthy Brain Initiative and Road Map Champion Program are supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $14,229,665 with 100% funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS or the U.S. Government.
About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead 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®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
About the Healthy Brain Initiative
The Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) improves understanding of brain health as a central part of public health practice. The initiative is guided by the vision that everyone deserves a life with the healthiest brain possible. The HBI creates and supports partnerships, collects and reports data, increases awareness of brain health, supports populations highly impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and promotes the use of its Road Map Series. The HBI Road Map Series provides actionable steps to promote brain health, address cognitive impairment and meet the needs of caregivers.
About the Healthy Brain Initiative The Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) improves understanding of brain health as a central part of public health practice. The initiative is guided by the vision that everyone deserves a life with the healthiest brain possible. The HBI creates and supports partnerships, collects and reports data, increases awareness of brain health, supports populations highly impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and promotes the use of its Road Map Series. The HBI Road Map Series provides actionable steps to promote brain health, address cognitive impairment and meet the needs of caregivers.