The Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map Strategist and Road Map Champion Programs build local and Tribal public health capacity to address brain health, dementia and caregiving in communities across the country. The programs support local public health leaders to work with community partners, share information, assess local needs, and implement priority actions aligned with the HBI Road Map Series.

Since 2021, the Alzheimer's Association has awarded 67 local health departments and Tribal health organizations as part of these programs.

Program overview

Through a competitive application process, selected local health departments, Tribally-led health programs and urban Indian organizations designate a public health leader to serve as Road Map 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.

Hear from past Strategists and Champions in this recorded webinar.

Key dates

• Applications open: Oct. 5, 2026

• Full applications due: Nov. 10, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET

• Award notifications: Nov. 30, 2026

• Participation period: January 2027 through September 2027

Funding overview

Each selected organization will be awarded $50,000, and an estimated 16 organizations will be funded across both the Strategist and Champion programs. Additional details on funding can be found in the Requests for Applications (RFA).

Application process and review process

View the Strategist and Champion RFAs below for details on application materials. To be considered, applicants must submit all required application materials listed in the RFA as one PDF file via the Submittable link below prior to Nov. 10, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The Alzheimer’s Association and partners will review all applications from eligible organizations and will notify applicants of their final status by Nov. 30, 2026. Final selection will include consideration of obtaining a diverse set of communities with regards to geography and program/organization characteristics.

Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map Strategist Program

The Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map Strategist Program helps build capacity within local health departments to address brain health, dementia and caregiving. Led by the Alzheimer’s Association in collaboration with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the program supports experienced public health professionals who serve as HBI Road Map Strategists — systems change agents working to advance the public health approach to dementia in their communities.

Eligibility

• This funding opportunity is intended for local health departments only.

• Applicants must designate a specific senior or mid-career employee with public health knowledge to actively and fully participate in the Road Map Strategist initiative.

• Local health departments that have previously participated in the HBI Road Map Strategist Program are not eligible to apply.

Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map Champion Program

The Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map Champion Program supports Tribally-led health programs and urban Indian organizations in advancing community-driven public health approaches to brain health, dementia and caregiving. Led by the Alzheimer’s Association in collaboration with the North Dakota State University American Indian Public Health Resource Center, the program builds capacity within American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities to address dementia through culturally grounded, strength-based public health strategies.

Eligibility

• This funding opportunity is intended for Tribally-led health programs and urban Indian organizations only.

• Applicants must designate an existing employee with public health knowledge to participate in the Road Map Champion Program.

• Tribally-led health programs and urban Indian organizations that have previously participated in the HBI Road Map Champion Program are not eligible to apply.

Additional information

These programs are supported by the CDC (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 $3,000,000 with 100 percent 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.

Contact information

Please contact publichealth@alz.org with any questions.