The Action for Health initiative is a four-year program funded by Alberta Health that addresses issues such as injury prevention and wellness. It does not focus on ways of treating disease or illness as the health system does, instead it is aimed at maintaining and improving the health of Albertans. This is accomplished by providing time-limited funding to individuals or groups from within Palliser who will then use this money to improve the health of citizens within Palliser through means that do not duplicate already existing services. An example is the "Helmet Heroes" programs which aims at educating children about the hazards of not wearing bicyle helmets.

Action for Health funding is available through the Palliser Health Authority. Each year there are 4 funding cycles during which projects are reviewed. Any amount of money up to $25 000 is available. Prevention/health promotion projects from within the Palliser Health Authority are eligible, excluding those which are profit-making, have already received full funding from other sources, duplicate existing programs or services or involve a capital project. Action for Health is only funded until 1998/99, after which time it may no longer be available.

To receive Action for Health funding, groups must submit a Detailed Project Proposal to the Authority. Groups meeting the project criteria will be invited to make a presentation to the review committee. If the project is given full approval two-thirds of the funding will be provided immediately with the remaining one-third being given at the midpoint of the project. Information about the Action for Health initiative can be obtained at any health center throughout Palliser or from Community Development and Health Promotion at 528-8191, or by dialing the toll-free number at the bottom of the screen and asking for extension 8191.