WISEWOMAN: Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation of WOMen Across the Nation

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, administers the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) Program. This initiative is authorized by the Public Health Service Act and complements the CDC-funded National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). WISEWOMAN aims to extend preventive health services for women who are already engaged with NBCCEDP programs, broadening the scope of care to include cardiovascular disease prevention. The program emphasizes reducing cardiovascular risk through clinical screenings, lifestyle interventions, and health system integration. The primary purpose of the WISEWOMAN Program is to address cardiovascular disease risk factors in underserved populations, especially women with limited access to preventive health care. By leveraging the infrastructure of NBCCEDP, WISEWOMAN expands beyond cancer screening to include assessments of blood pressure, cholesterol, and other cardiovascular indicators. The program further supports interventions in diet, physical activity, tobacco cessation, and medication adherence. It seeks to foster sustainable systems change by strengthening connections between healthcare providers, public health systems, and community-based organizations that deliver supportive services. The funding is structured as a cooperative agreement, reflecting a high level of involvement by the CDC in monitoring, technical assistance, and evaluation. Up to thirty-three awards are anticipated, with funding ranging from $500,000 to $2,000,000 per recipient, and a total program allocation of approximately $110 million. A cost-sharing or matching requirement is in place, consistent with congressional mandate and CDC policy. Applicants must carefully budget for both direct and indirect costs and demonstrate the ability to sustain activities beyond the period of performance. Eligibility for this program is limited to organizations that currently receive NBCCEDP funding. This stipulation ensures that applicants already operate within the CDC’s breast and cervical cancer prevention framework, allowing WISEWOMAN resources to be layered onto existing infrastructure. Eligible entities include state governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and tribal organizations, provided they are NBCCEDP recipients. This narrow eligibility design is intended to promote consistency in program delivery and monitoring. Applications for the 2023 cycle opened following the March 27, 2023 posting, with a revised closing date of May 30, 2023. Submissions were required to be made electronically no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. The solicitation emphasized adherence to Grants.gov requirements and timely submission. All applications were to align with CDC’s guidelines, including submission of a full narrative, budget, work plan, and letters of support where applicable. Proposals were evaluated based on alignment with CDC goals, capacity to implement comprehensive screening and intervention services, strength of partnerships, and quality of data collection and reporting systems. The program period of performance is generally five years, contingent upon the availability of funds and successful annual performance reviews. Recipients are expected to establish systems-level partnerships and integrate community resources into healthcare delivery to ensure sustained improvements in cardiovascular health. CDC’s oversight includes performance measurement, data reporting, and participation in evaluation studies. Awards are subject to annual continuation decisions based on progress and compliance. Overall, the WISEWOMAN Program represents a targeted effort to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease among women who are already engaged in preventive health services through NBCCEDP. By providing additional resources and requiring system-level integration, the CDC seeks to address both clinical risk factors and the broader social determinants of health. This funding opportunity supports a holistic approach to chronic disease prevention, reinforcing the CDC’s broader mission to improve public health outcomes across the nation.

CDC emphasizes alignment with NBCCEDP infrastructure, integration with health systems, and strong partnerships for sustainability.