SACRAMENTO –The California Department of Public Health has announced awards totaling $4,500,000 to six local health jurisdictions to help address dementia.

Each local health jurisdiction awardee shall receive $750,000 in funding over three consecutive fiscal years from June 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022.

“California has more aging people than any other state in the nation, including more people living with Alzheimer’s, other age-related brain dementias, and the people who care for them,” said former first lady, Maria Shriver.

“The Healthy Brain Initiative will help reveal critical and factual insights on how communities throughout the state can prioritize brain health and caregiving. As the chair of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Task Force on Alzheimer’s Prevention, Preparedness and a Path Forward, we are excited about this initiative and look forward to collaborating as we lead the way to become a cognitively healthy country at every stage of life,” Shriver said.

“There are about 670,000 people in California who are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, with very mild to advanced symptoms,” said Dr. Sonia Angell, California Department of Public Health director and state public health officer. “Their needs and those of the families and caregivers who help support them varies across a spectrum. The time is now to work with communities and partners to find durable solutions. These awards reflect an important investment towards that goal.”

The funding, made available through the California Healthy Brain Initiative State and Local Public Health Partnerships program, will support activities in these four categories:

– Monitoring data and evaluating programs to contribute to evidence-based practice.
– Education and empowerment of the public with regard to brain health and cognitive aging.
– Mobilizing public and private partnerships to engage local stakeholders in effective community-based interventions and best practices.
– Ensuring a competent workforce by strengthening the knowledge, skills, and abilities of health care professionals who deliver care and services to people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and their family caregivers.

The following local health jurisdictions were awarded grants:

– County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health, Area: Urban and Coastal.
– County of Placer, Public Health Division, Area: Urban and Inland.
– County of Sacramento, Department of Health Service, Division of Public Health, Area: Urban and Inland.
– County of San Diego, Department of Health Service, Division of Public Health, Area: Urban and Coastal.
– County of Santa Clara Public Health Department, Area: Urban and Inland.
– Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency, Area: Urban and Inland

For more information visit www.cdph.ca.gov.