The CDC Foundation has announced a $1.6 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in support of its Healthy People 2020 Law and Health Policy Project.

To be led by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the initiative aims to provide practical information about the use of law and policy to public health officials and associations, health-related industries, legal practitioners, nonprofit organizations, policy makers, and individuals. To that end, subject matter experts, including some from RWJF, will work with federal partners over the next three years to develop at least ten evidence-based reports highlighting the state of laws and policies related to specific topic areas within the Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2020 initiative.

"The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation believes that law and policy are important levers for building a culture of health in our nation," said RWJF president and CEO Risa Lavizzo-Mourey. "We're pleased to collaborate with leaders in public health and government to focus attention on policies based on the best science to help achieve the national health goals set out in Healthy People 2020 — strategies that all states and communities can use to help people live healthier lives."