Overview and Purpose: The Alzheimer's Association BOLD Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Risk Reduction (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 in strengthening their capacity to hold community action planning meetings focused on improving brain health, by sharing knowledge and skills necessary to hold community action planning meetings focused on improving brain health. 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.
• Provide training to implement the Community Convening framework to run a local convening.

As an RLC attendee, you will develop a plan to drive community actions on dementia risk reduction and begin to implement those actions using the Community Convening framework. To see if any health departments from your state have previously participated in RLCs, visit the State Overview page.

Host Site and Date:  

• The 2026 RLC will be held April 29–30, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
• Local health departments across the United States (U.S.) are invited to apply.

Participants will be:  

• Representatives from a local health department (LHDs). Up to 9 participants will be selected.
• Able to attend the in-person RLC in Atlanta, GA on April 29-30, 2026.
• Able to complete designated pre-work, approximately 1 hour of material review. 
• Committed to hosting their own community action planning meeting within 6-9 months following their RLC. 

Application Submission Instructions: To submit an application, please complete the questions below and include an email or communication indicating approval for you to travel to the RLC by 11:59 p.m., ET, on Friday, January 16, 2026. 

Notification Date: Monday, February 2, 2026.

Participation Timeframe: There will be two days of in-person meetings, with sessions on Day 1 from 1:00pm-5:00pm and on Day 2 from 8:00am-1:00pm. During the meeting, participants will follow steps 1 and 2 of the Community Convening framework to identify community needs and develop potential partners for collaboration. Following the convening, participating health departments will be responsible for implementing steps 3 and 4 to develop a community action plan with a focus on dementia risk reduction, implementation and evaluation. After the meeting, participants will be asked to complete a 30-day, 3-month, and 6-month follow up evaluation about the planning for their community action meeting. 

Support Provided: 

• Costs associated with travel, lodging, and meals during travel and the in-person meeting will be reimbursed by the Alzheimer’s Association.
• Virtual monthly technical assistance calls will be held following the RLC through September 2026.
• Individual technical assistance will be offered as needed, up to the amount of 5 hours per participant.
• 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 Monday, February 2, 2026. 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 ensure a balanced representation across states, recognizing that only nine local health departments will be selected for the learning collaborative. Questions can be sent to CenterOfExcellence@alz.org.  An open forum for additional questions will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 3:00-4:00p ET.

2026 Risk Reduction Learning Collaborative Application: Local Health Departments Scoring Rubric

Below you will be asked to provide contact information, meeting date, engagement capacity, and supporting documentation.

Contact Information (5 points)  

• Name, e-mail, and local health department name and address.
• Confirm your ability to attend the in-person meeting on April 29–30, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Community Engagement and Capacity Assessment (15 points)

• Why are you interested in attending the Risk Reduction Learning Collaborative?
• What existing community priorities and ongoing health department initiatives align with modifiable risk factors for dementia? (Modifiable Risk Factors: Formal Education, Traumatic Brain Injury, Midlife Hypertension, Midlife Obesity, Diabetes, Physical Activity, Smoking, Sleep Disorder/Poor Quality, Balanced Nutrition, and Cognitive Engagement).
• How has your health department convened diverse community partners to address public health priorities in the past?

Supporting Documentation (5 points)

• Provide an email or written communication from your supervisor and/or leadership indicating approval for you to travel to the RLC.
• The Alzheimer’s Association staff person from your region will attend the RLC in partnership with you. Please provide the name and email address of your local Alzheimer’s Association contact. If you do not currently have a contact person, the Center’s team will connect you to your local chapter. 

Total Potential Points = 25

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: When is the application submission deadline?

• A: Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, January 16, 2026. 

Q: When will applicants be notified of their final status?

• A: Applicants will be notified of their final status by Monday, February 2, 2026. 

Q: What does hosting our own community action planning meeting entail?

• A: Hosting a community action planning meeting involves using the framework provided in Hosting a Community Convening for Dementia Risk Reduction: A Toolkit for Public Health Agencies. 

Q: How long is the Risk Reduction Learning Collaborative process?

• There will be two days of in-person meetings, with sessions on Day 1 from 1:00pm – 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 2026.

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 reimburse the cost of attending the in-person Risk Reduction Learning Collaboratives, including travel, lodging, and meals.

Q: Are state health departments/agencies eligible to apply?

• A: No, this opportunity is only intended for local health departments. While state health department applications are not eligible, representatives are encouraged to attend the virtual pre-collaborative meeting and may 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: No, this application is currently open to local health departments. However, Tribally-led health programs and urban Indian organizations interested in the RLC should visit the Tribal and Urban RLC application here.   

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 $4,440,922.00, 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.