APTA chapters and individual physical therapy practices have a new incentive to start or enhance programs that encourage people with arthritis to be more active—but time is short to take advantage of it. APTA is collaborating with the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a program that will award 6 grants of about $4,100 each to selected applicants. The grants specifically are for activities to increase consumer access to the Arthritis Foundation’s Walk With Ease (WWE) self-directed program.

Applicants must propose how they will use the funds to implement the WWE self-directed program, either alone or in collaboration with community partners or state arthritis programs. Funds can be used to purchase participant WWE guidebooks and marketing materials, and to cover administrative costs. Grant recipients are expected to enroll 400 participants during the 9-month project period, which begins in November 2017.

Applications are due Friday, September 29, 2017, at 11:59 pm EST. More information, including program requirements, application instructions, and links to download the application (in Word and fillable PDF formats), is available on the NACDD website.

APTA’s Arthritis Management Through Community-Based Programs webpage includes a link to the Walk With Ease program along with a wealth of other resources.