1. The Role of Foundations in Public Health Research, Policy, and Practice: Archstone Foundation's Fall Prevention Initiative

Fall prevention has been a focal area of the Archstone Foundation for over a decade with more than 60 grants being awarded, totaling $12.2 million. The Foundation has funded programs, which include the development of balance and mobility programs, home modifications, and statewide and national convenings. In 2003, the Foundation brought together key stakeholder groups throughout California to begin a strategic planning process for the prevention of falls among older adults. In response to participants' recommendations, the Archstone Foundation provided funding to establish the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence (FPCE) as a coordinating body for fall prevention activities across the state. FPCE builds on the efforts and expertise of a public-private interdisciplinary partnership drawn from four organizations: University of Southern California's Andrus Gerontology Center; Center for Successful Aging at California State University, Fullerton; UCLA/VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center; and California Department of Public Health, State and Local Injury Control Section. The FPCE's overall goal is to better understand and identify causes of falls and develop effective interventions at individual, program and systems levels. The Archstone Foundation and FPCE are collaborating through the California Senior Fall Prevention Projects, the InSTEP Model Projects, and the California Fall Prevention Summit to help communities build their capacity to address falls among older adults, deliver evidence-based and integrated fall prevention services, and advocate in the policy sphere to expand the reach of fall prevention activities.