ASTHO, with support provided by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of a National Demonstration Initiative on Quality Improvement (QI) Practices in State Public Health Programs. Five state health agencies have been selected to participate in the initiative based on a competitive Request for Application announced in December 2011. The five states are Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, and Oregon. Each of these agencies will receive up to $100,000 in funding as well as QI and subject-matter consultation over the next 18 months. The purpose of the National Demonstration Project is to increase state readiness for accreditation, demonstrate the value of accreditation/QI, improve integration of services among state public health programs, and use standard methodology to manage budgets in difficult times. For further information on this initiative please contact Denise Pavletic.