06/18/2026
Soul Quest Healing Horizons Foundation, Inc. -CDC-RFA-CK-26-0193
Alpha-Gal Syndrome Community Education and Awareness Initiative
Project Summary
Soul Quest Healing Horizons Foundation, Inc. proposes the Alpha-Gal Syndrome Community Education and Awareness Initiative, a five-year public health education project designed to increase awareness, knowledge, and understanding of Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) through community education, public awareness activities, stakeholder engagement, hospitality and tourism education, outdoor recreation outreach, tick-bite prevention education, and development of tailored educational resources.
This project aligns with CDC Strategy 2: Educate by increasing the availability of evidence-informed AGS educational resources and expanding awareness among individuals affected by AGS, caregivers, healthcare providers, hospitality and tourism professionals, outdoor recreation stakeholders, community organizations, and populations at increased risk of tick exposure.
Alpha-Gal Syndrome is an emerging tick-associated allergic condition that may develop following certain tick bites and can result in allergic reactions to mammalian-derived foods, ingredients, medications, and other products. Despite growing recognition of AGS, significant gaps remain in public awareness, prevention education, symptom recognition, risk-reduction knowledge, and access to reliable educational resources. Individuals affected by AGS often face challenges related to food safety, healthcare navigation, travel, hospitality services, outdoor recreation, and access to practical information needed for daily decision-making.
The proposed initiative will implement a Florida-based pilot focused on educational outreach, public awareness, stakeholder engagement, and resource development within the Clearwater, Dunedin, and greater Tampa Bay region. Educational materials, communication tools, and outreach strategies developed through the Florida pilot will be refined and disseminated nationally to support AGS education efforts throughout the United States.
Project activities will include development and dissemination of educational resources; community education events; webinars and presentations; public awareness campaigns; hospitality, tourism, travel, and outdoor recreation education; stakeholder collaboration; and tick-bite prevention and risk-reduction education. Resources will support real-world settings including restaurants, hotels, tourism destinations, outdoor recreation areas, camps, RV parks, healthcare settings, schools, senior-living communities, community organizations, and public events.
Through expanded educational outreach, prevention education, stakeholder collaboration, and national dissemination of evidence-informed resources, the initiative will increase awareness of Alpha-Gal Syndrome, improve understanding of prevention and risk-reduction strategies, strengthen access to reliable educational information, and support informed decision-making among affected individuals, professionals, organizations, and communities throughout the United States.
