The University of Iowa announced Thursday the UI Child Health Specialty Clinics will receive another year of funding for a project designed to improve the health and quality of life of Iowans.

According to a UI news release, the project focuses on assisting primary-care providers in Iowa in addressing issues such as obesity with patients. The goal of the project is to reduce the risk of preventable diseases and obesity, the release said.

The Iowa Public Health Association selected nine locations, including the UI Child Health Specialty Clinics, across Iowa to become sites for the second year of the project. The project represents a partnership with and a grant investment from AmeriCorps Health Corps project.

The project will run from Sept. 4 through July 31, 2013; applications are being accepted for future AmeriCorps Health Corps members.

According to the release, more than 16,000 Iowans were reached in the first year of the project.

– by Jordyn Reiland