You may have heard of the Diabetes MATCH (Mobilizing Access Through Capacity Building & Health Equity) Initiative but may not know exactly what it entails or how ADCES is involved. As we head into the second year of the 5-year CDC cooperative agreement, MATCH has set the foundations to support the advancement of health equity for underserved populations that are at greater risk of developing or experiencing complications from diabetes.
MATCH is a grant program designed to identify and work toward solutions for health disparities that we know already exist across the country. This allows recipients to effectively implement their chosen strategies and promote health equity.
The initiative is led by Emory Centers for Public Health Training and Technical Assistance, in partnership with ADCES, and leverages the expertise and resources of both organizations to support the work of 77 grant recipients. Recipients are comprised of governmental and private organizations seeking to address health disparities by reducing social determinants of health related barriers impacting priority populations’ successful access to and participation in evidence-based type 2 diabetes management and prevention programs and services. These include the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP), lifestyle change program (LCP), and diabetes self-management and support (DSMES) services. Recipients cover 50 states and the District of Columbia, including 22 organizations working in high-need counties and 4 multisectoral partnerships led by national organizations.
To break this down, recipients’ work falls into 1 of 3 components:
Component A: Statewide (or D.C.-wide) reach to eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity by activating at least 6 diabetes care and prevention strategies.
Component B: Working in high-need counties in partnership with communitybased organizations to activate at least 4 diabetes care and prevention strategies.
Component C: Multisector partnerships to enroll 10 000 participants in the DPP.
The MATCH Initiative is designed along 5 cores:
Core 1–Subject Matter Expert (SME) Network: a network of SMEs who provide targeted guidance and support to recipients.
Core 2–Training and Technical Assistance: comprehensive training programs (eg, webinars) and individualized technical assistance to equip recipients with the necessary skills and knowledge.
Core 3–Guidance Documents and Resources: a repository of tools and resources to assist recipients in implementing strategies and measuring progress.
Core 4–Health Equity for Priority Populations: a focus on addressing health disparities and promoting equity among priority populations.
Core 5–Evaluation and Health Equity Studies: rigorous evaluation and research to assess the impact of MATCH on health equity measures and inform future efforts.
At the heart of MATCH lies a commitment to ensuring that the right training, technical assistance, and resources are delivered to recipients at the right time and in the right modality. This tailored approach is designed to facilitate the effective implementation of the 13 strategies outlined in the grant and drive meaningful and sustainable advancements in health equity.
ADCES has a long history of involvement in CDC-funded initiatives aimed at improving diabetes care and prevention, which has laid a strong foundation for its work in MATCH. Previous CDC investments have focused on environmental and policy changes, health equity, health care system improvements, community-clinical linkages, and innovative approaches to diabetes care. The MATCH Initiative represents a convergence of these efforts and a commitment to advancing health equity.
Our organization’s expertise in diabetes care and education coupled with our commitment to health equity align seamlessly with the goals of the MATCH Initiative. Not only that, MATCH also aligns with ADCES’s new 2024-2028 strategic plan, which focuses on improving health outcomes for individuals with diabetes and prediabetes by advancing health equity through its work in diabetes education.
ADCES is not only overseeing and supporting the recipients’ work, it also has a team serving as 1 of the 77 recipients and working in U.S. counties identified by CDC as “high need.” The recipient team works with federally qualified health centers to better serve people across their life span by offering evidence-based community behavioral change programs related to diabetes management, type 2 diabetes prevention, and childhood obesity management. Their efforts are focused on 3 community partners located in Georgia, Arizona, and California.
MATCH is poised to have a significant impact on the specialty of diabetes education. By targeting priority populations and reducing health disparities, the initiative is increasing access to diabetes education and promoting prevention and management of diabetes and prediabetes. Additionally, MATCH is working to improve DSMES enrollment and retention rates and advocating for policy changes to support DSMES and insurance coverage. Furthermore, the initiative is addressing workforce capacity challenges by providing training and technical assistance to diabetes educators.
The MATCH Initiative is a groundbreaking effort to address health disparities and promote equity in diabetes care. By providing targeted support, training, and resources, MATCH is empowering recipients to implement innovative strategies and achieve meaningful and lasting outcomes for priority populations. It is also working to provide opportunities for recipients across the nation and disciplines to share resources and break out of siloed efforts. As MATCH continues to evolve, it has the potential to transform the landscape of diabetes education and care.
Sloane Fisher, MPS, is a communication manager with ADCES in Chicago, IL.
The author declares having no professional or financial association or interest in an entity, product, or service related to the content or development of this article.
This content was supported by Cooperative Agreement No. CDC-RFA-DP-23-0021, A Strategic Approach to Advancing Health Equity for Priority Populations With or at Risk for Diabetes—Subject Matter Expertise, Training, and Technical Assistance, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.