Overview and Purpose: The Alzheimer's Association BOLD Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Risk Reduction (the Center) in collaboration with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) are convening local health department leaders and equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to hold community action planning meetings focused on improving brain health. These convenings, Risk Reduction Learning Collaboratives (RLC), are designed to:
- Increase knowledge and confidence of local health officials around dementia risk reduction,
- Increase understanding of the intersection of social determinants of health and dementia modifiable risk factors,
- Increase confidence in convening a community meeting to produce an action plan to reduce dementia risk.
As an RLC attendee, your role will be to complete a worksheet and watch a series of short videos on dementia risk factors before the meeting and join the in-person workshop where you will assemble a plan to build capacity, pinpoint attainable actions on dementia risk reduction, and develop a plan to execute those actions using the Community Convening framework.
Participants will be:
- One local health department staffer (LHDs) in the United States.
- Able to attend the in-person RLC in their specific area in the table below.
- Able to complete designated pre-work, approximately 1 hour of material review.
- Committed to hosting their own community action planning meeting in the 6-9 months following their RLC.
Risk Reduction Learning Collaborative Identifier Map
RRLC Host Site Date States Invited to Participate
- RLC 1: Atlanta, GA Sept. 26-27, 2024 AL, FL, GA, NC, SC, TN, VA
- RLC 2: Phoenix, AZ Oct. 8-9, 2024 AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY
- RLC 3: Houston, TX Feb. 11-12, 2025 AR, LA, MS, OK, TX
- RLC 4: Chicago, IL March 5-6, 2025 IL, IN, KY, MI, OH, WI, WV
- RLC 5: Boston, MA April 29-30, 2025 CT, DC, DE, MA, ME, MD, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
- RLC 6: Minnetonka, MN June 24-25, 2025 IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD
- RLC 7: Anaheim, CA *July 13-18, 2025 AK, CA, HI, OR, WA
*Indicates that the date is being scheduled as a part of the 2025 NACCHO360 pre-conference workshop.
Application Submission Instructions: To submit an application, please complete the questions below and include an email or communication from your supervisor indicating approval for you to travel to the RLC by 11:59 p.m., ET, on August 2, 2024.
Notification Date: August 16, 2024
Participation Timeframe: There will be two days of in-person meetings, with sessions on Day 1 from 1:30pm-5:00pm and on Day 2 from 8:00am-1:00pm. Region schedules are below under the RLC Identifier Table. After the meeting participants will be asked to complete a 30 day and 6 month follow up evaluation to understand more about how planning for their community action planning meeting is going.
Support Provided:
- Costs associated with travel, lodging and meals to the in-person meeting will be covered by the Alzheimer’s Association.
- Monthly Technical Assistance Calls will be held following the RLC through September 2025
- Individual Technical Assistance will be offered as needed, up to the amount of 3-5 hours.
- Peer Learning Opportunities including learning from health departments that have hosted Community Convenings.
Application Review and Notification
The Center, ASTHO, and NACCHO will review all applications from eligible organizations and will notify applicants of their final status by August 16, 2024. Applications will be scored based on the criteria described below. Final selection will include consideration of obtaining a diverse set of communities with regard to geographical locations and LHD characteristics. Every effort will be made to include at least one local health department from each participating state in the learning collaborative. Questions can be sent to CenterOfExcellence@alz.org. An open forum for additional questions was held on July 10, 2024 at 3:00-4:00p ET and responses are recorded below.
Risk Reduction Learning Collaborative Application Scoring Rubric
The following scoring rubric will be used for review of all applications from eligible organizations.
Contact Information (5 points)
- Applicant identified their name, e-mail, and local health department name and address.
RLC Host Site & Date (5 points)
- Applicant identified their respective region to attend.
Community Engagement and Capacity Assessment (15 points)
- Applicant identified: Why are you interested in attending the Risk Reduction Learning Collaborative? (5 points)
- Applicant identified: What existing community priorities and ongoing initiatives align with modifiable risk factors for dementia? (Modifiable Risk Factors include: Formal Education, Traumatic Brain Injury, Midlife Hypertension, Midlife Obesity, Diabetes, Physical Activity, Smoking, Sleep Disorder/Poor Quality, Balanced Nutrition, and Cognitive Engagement). (5 points)
- Applicant identified: How has your health department convened diverse partners within the community in the past? (5 points)
Supporting Documentation (5 points)
- Applicant provided documentation from your supervisor confirming your ability to travel to the RLC (i.e. email, letter, etc.). (5 points)
- Applicant provided the name and email of your local Alzheimer’s Association contact. If you do not have one , the Center’s team will complete this for you in the local chapter. (0 points)
Total Potential Points = 30
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: When is the application submission deadline?
A: Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm EST on August 2, 2024.
Q: When will applicants be notified of their final status?
A: Applicants will be notified of their final status by August 16, 2024.
Q: What does hosting our own community action planning meeting entail?
A: A community action planning meeting is based on the Center’s Community Convening program. Details about how to hold a community action planning meeting, best practices, sample agendas and suggested invitees will be provided as part of the Regional Learning Collaborative meeting.
Q: How long is the Risk Reduction Learning Collaborative process?
A: There will be two days of in-person meetings, with sessions on Day 1 from 1:30pm-5:00pm and on Day 2 from 8:00am-1:00pm. Followed by monthly and individual technical assistance calls and peer learning opportunities through September 2025.
Q: Is there direct funding associated with the Risk Reduction Learning Collaboratives?
A: There is no direct funding to the health department. The Alzheimer’s Association will cover the cost of attending the in-person Risk Reduction Learning Collaboratives.
Q: Are state health departments/agencies eligible to apply?
A: No, state health department representatives are not eligible to attend the in-person collaborative. However, they will be invited to the virtual pre-collaborative meeting and can participate in follow-up activities if desired.
Q: Is there a maximum number of people from local health departments that can attend a Risk Reduction Learning Collaborative?
A: Yes, 1 person per local health department will attend the RLC.
Q: Are Tribal Public Health Departments/Districts able to apply?
A: The program is currently open to local health departments and has not been tailored for tribal audiences.
Q: Is there an opportunity to attend Risk Reduction Learning Collaboratives virtually?
A: This is an in-person meeting only.
Q: Who should I contact for further inquiries about the application process?
A: For further information, please reach out to CenterOfExcellence@alz.org.
The Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Risk Reduction is made possible by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of a financial assistance award totaling $2,973,948, with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents of this application are those of the Alzheimer’s Association and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS or the U.S. Government.
Purpose: The Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map Strategists Program increases the capacity of local health departments (LHDs) and their community partners to address cognitive health.
Up to ten (10) local health departments will receive direct funding, training, and technical assistance to establish a part-time HBI Road Map Strategist to advance population health approaches related to dementia. These population health professionals will receive training and technical assistance that enables them to:
- Develop expertise in Alzheimer’s and dementia from a life-course perspective, including understanding related social and structural determinants of health and expert recommendations for governmental public health action;
- Assess local needs and strengths related to dementia;
- Educate public health department staff;
- Provide local leadership in prioritizing, implementing, and coordinating actions from the HBI State and Local Road Map for Public Health, 2023 - 2027.
Eligibility: Local health departments. 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. Organizations already receiving dementia-specific grant funding are not eligible to apply. Individuals who have previously completed the HBI Road Map Strategist Program are not eligible to apply.
Application Instructions: For additional details, see the Request for Applications.
Application Due Date: September 26, 2024 at 5:00 PM ET
Notification Date: November 1, 2024
Participation Period: January 2025, through September 2025, with opportunities to remain involved afterwards through an alumni program.
Support Provided:
- Two-part grant up to $48,000;
- Virtual education, coaching, technical assistance, tools, and peer learning.
Contact: publichealth@alz.org