The Disparities in Health prevention work is aimed at reducing risk factors for diabetes, asthma and HIV/AIDS by addressing the broad determinants of health, especially in social and physical environments.

The Endowment's work in prevention seeks to create comprehensive health improvement activities coordinated at the individual, community and systems' levels. Activities include support of health education, community organizing, creation of public and private partnerships; improved prevention services in public health and primary care settings; and advocacy and public policy to support prevention efforts to reduce health disparities.

Diabetes: Within this area, efforts seek to improve nutrition and physical fitness in communities to reduce obesity and the incidence and severity of type 2 diabetes among school-aged children. This program will support strategies aimed at improving environments that support healthy eating and physical activity, and specifically focus on increasing access to nutritious foods in schools and communities, safe places to exercise, and improving health norms to support healthy eating and fitness habits.

Asthma: Within this area, efforts seek to improve the quality of life for school-aged children with asthma through a two-pronged approach. The first seeks to improve treatment and management of asthma in primary care settings through the use of community health outreach workers. The second seeks to reduce the environmental triggers that exacerbate asthma by supporting community and regional coalitions that focus on school, homes and air quality.