Background

The Reducing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities "Closing the Gap" grant program, section 381.7351, Florida Statutes, was signed into law on June 8, 2000.  These grants are utilized to stimulate the development of community and neighborhood-based organizations to improve health outcomes of racial and ethnic populations and promote disease prevention activities. 

Projects funded through the Closing the Gap grant program help stimulate broad-based participation and the support of both public and private entities by: 

• Fostering partnerships between local governments, community groups and private sector health care organizations;

• Helping communities address their most pressing health needs through targeted health screenings, education and awareness programs;

• Helping communities better understand the nature of health disparities among ethnic and racial groups; and

• Helping communities better understand the nature of health disparities among ethnic and racial groups.

Primary benefits to the state form the Closing the Gap Act include:

• Meaningful improvements in the lives of Floridians who now suffer disproportionately from disease and disability; and

• Development of tools and strategies that will enable Florida to eliminate these disparities. 

The "Closing the Gap" grant program targets seven priority health areas:

• Cancer

• Cardiovascular disease

• Diabetes

• Adult and Child Immunizations

• HIV/AIDS

• Maternal and Infant Mortality 

• Oral Healthcare.