Patient Advocate Foundation is Awarded Grant by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention

HAMPTON, Va., Nov. 18, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) – a national, award-winning nonprofit specializing in healthcare advocacy - is the proud recipient of a five year anti-tobacco and cancer prevention grant awarded by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health and the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. The grant objective seeks to reduce tobacco use and lower cancer diagnoses in target-specific populations.

Patient Advocate Foundation's SelfMade Health Network, a national grassroots coalition, aims to decrease tobacco use and prevent chronic disease among low socioeconomic populations by improving overall health in order to fulfill the grant objectives. Additionally, the SelfMade Health Network will be teaming up with seven other networks to form the Consortium of National Networks to Impact Populations Experiencing Tobacco-Related and Cancer Health Disparities in order to achieve the grant goals and objectives. SelfMade Health Network members will focus on enhancing the quality and performance of anti-tobacco and cancer prevention public health programs, services, partnerships, and resources in low socioeconomic status communities.

"Those with limited income, education, and occupation status are disproportionately at risk for cancer diagnosis, as it relates to tobacco use comparatively to other populations. We are honored to join forces with these seven other networks to truly make a difference in our national and local communities," says Chief Executive Officer Alan Balch, PhD of PAF.

Additional grant recipient networks include National African American Tobacco Prevention Network, National Native Network, Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy & Leadership, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, LGBT HealthLink, National Council for Behavioral Health and the Geographic Health Equity Alliance.
 
For more information about Patient Advocate Foundation and their mission to improve healthcare access to all patients, please visit www.patientadvocate.org or call toll free at (800) 532-5274.