A McMaster project focused on co-creating interventions aimed at preventing chronic disease in vulnerable populations in a Hamilton community is receiving an $870,000 investment from the federal government.

SCORE! — Strengthening Community Roots: Anchoring Newcomers and Sustainability seeks to nurture a love of the outdoors, gardening, and hiking among new immigrant families in the Riverdale neighbourhood on the city’s east end; and to optimize healthy active living to prevent obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

The community-driven project will target behavioural risk factors, such as unhealthy eating and physical inactivity, which can lead to chronic diseases that significantly contribute to cardiovascular disease.

“We are thrilled to be working on this project where health equity meets public health, and which has the potential to help newcomer families optimize the health trajectories of their children,” project lead Sonia Anand said at the funding announcement in Hamilton this week.

“SCORE! seeks to co-design and evaluate healthy active living interventions, while at the same time promoting optimal mental health and well-being,” said Anand, Canada Research Chair in Ethnic Diversity and Cardiovascular Disease, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation/Michael G. DeGroote Chair in Population Health Research.

The collaborative project will also foster partnerships between families, schools, government, health-care facilities and community organizations.

“By promoting physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco prevention and cessation, we are helping people living in Canada to become more active and eat healthy foods, which leads to healthier lives,” Hamilton-East – Stoney Creek MP Chad Collins said as he announced the funding on behalf of Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.

“This is especially important for individuals who face health inequities. Together with our partners, we aim to achieve better health outcomes for everyone living in Canada through these community-based projects and initiatives.”

Today, I was pleased to announce, on behalf Minister of Health @jyduclos, an investment of $870,000 for @McMasterU SCORE! Project. The project aims to increase active & healthy living to prevent type 2 diabetes in South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern new immigrants. pic.twitter.com/gyfORJLrgA

— Chad Collins (@ChadCollinsMP) September 6, 2022

The funding is part of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund (HCCF), which supports projects that aim to lower Canadians’ risk of chronic disease by tackling common modifiable risk factors, namely unhealthy eating, smoking, and physical inactivity.

“Our government is committed to improve the health and quality of life of everyone living in Canada,” Duclos said.

“With McMaster University, we are helping ensure that everyone can lead a more active and healthy life.”