The Department of Health and Human Services today awarded $137 million, partly supported by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to states to strengthen the public health infrastructure and provide jobs in core areas of public health.

Awarded in nearly every state, the grants enhance efforts to provide tobacco cessation services, strengthen public health laboratory and immunization services, prevent health-care-associated infections, and provide comprehensive substance abuse prevention and treatment.

Iowa received money for two programs: $92,758 for CDC Tobacco Quitlines and $900,000 for CDC Strengthen Public Health Immunization.