Arthritis

State Programs

CDC’s Arthritis Program History

CDC’s Arthritis Program, guided by recommendations in National Arthritis Action Plan: A Public Health Strategy (NAAP)[PDF–394K] , has been funding Arthritis Programs at state health departments since 1999, with as many as 36 state health departments receiving CDC arthritis funding from 2003-2008.

In spring 2007, CDC convened national experts to review program activities and recommend future program directions. The panel made several important consensus recommendations, leading to major changes in the program. One of the central recommendations from the panel was to strengthen state programs by providing states with sufficient funds to extend effective-evidence-based interventions to reach more to people with arthritis within funded states. In adopting the advice of the expert review to increase the investment in funded sates, CDC reduced the number of funded states to 12 from 2008-2011 and increased funding to an average of approximately $500,000. New funding awarded in 2012 supports twelve states following the same model of increased investment.

Focus of Funded State Programs

State arthritis programs have previously focused on building capacity to disseminate and deliver evidence-based interventions. The current five year funding opportunity, , which began in July 2012, awarded 12 states an average funding of approximately $427,000 and builds on lessons learned from previous funding opportunity announcements with a continued emphasis on embedding arthritis interventions in existing systems to exponentially expand access to and use of these interventions.

The central aim of state arthritis programs is to improve the quality of life among persons affected by arthritis. States use CDC funding to strengthen partnerships with other chronic disease programs, state Arthritis Foundation chapters/regions and other partners, improve their ability to monitor the burden of arthritis, coordinate activities, increase States work to increase awareness that something can be done to address the burden and impact of arthritis and to promote self-management education and physical activity.