ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The NC Center for Health and Wellness at the University of North Carolina Asheville has received a $1.2 million, three-year grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living for the “Empowering Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities through Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Program” funding opportunity, UNCA announced Aug. 31 in a news release. 

“NCCHW is very excited to receive this grant award that will build on our collaborative statewide partnerships and successes to improve systems of care and make a significant impact on the health and well-being of older adults in North Carolina,” said NCCHW CDSME Project Director Vivian Gettys, M.P.H., M.A., R.N.

The goals of the NCCHW project titled, “PATH NC: Promoting Access to Total Health NC” are to 1) Increase statewide access to CDSME programs and support the Program to Encourage Active Rewarding Lives and the Walk with Ease program for older adults who live with depression and/or anxiety; 2) Strengthen relationships between the Aging and Disability Services Network and behavioral health providers through a learning collaborative and community of practice.

Project products including a learning collaborative framework, implementation guide, and resource toolkit will be developed and disseminated to increase knowledge in the field.