BUFFALO AND SYRACUSE, NY — The Health Foundation for Western and Central New York is now accepting applications from leaders in western and central New York who are interested in participating in the next cohort of the Health Leadership Fellows Program. The Fellows program is designed for executives and leaders from health-related non-profit organizations, safety net organizations and public agencies that address the needs of older adults and young children impacted by poverty. Applications can be submitted online here.
The deadline to apply for Cohort 10 of the Health Leadership Fellows Program is December 21, 2020. Due to ongoing COVID-19 health regulations, some aspects of the program will be delivered in a re-imagined way to ensure the safety of all participants. Pre-work for Cohort 10 will take place virtually over the spring and summer months of 2021. The first in-person residential session (contingent on safety regulations and recommendations) is planned for October 2021.
Informational webinar sessions will be held for those wishing to learn more about the program on October 14, 2020, at 2 pm and November 12, 2020, at 11 am. Sign-up information for the webinars is posted on the Fellows web page. These sessions are optional and both sessions will offer the same information, so interested applicants should attend only one if they choose.
The goal of the Health Leadership Fellows Program is to develop and strengthen a network of collaborative leaders with organizations and systems that serve young children impacted by poverty and older adults. One of the Health Foundation’s earliest and longest-running programs, the Fellows program has trained hundreds of non-profit professionals on leadership, communication and collaboration since 2005.
Each cohort of fellows is made up of about 40 professionals from organizations throughout western and central New York. The intensive 18-month program includes four two- to three-day residential sessions on topics including personal leadership, leading change, communicating as a leader and results-based leadership and collaboration. Ongoing learning happens between sessions, where fellows work together on an inter-organizational project in small teams. Each fellow also gets executive coaching and access to the program’s learning materials.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated so clearly, it is more important than ever to ensure our community health care leaders are supported and provided opportunities to collaborate and share their expertise,” said Health Foundation President Nora OBrien-Suric, PhD. “We are pleased to provide this opportunity to support a new cohort of Fellows as they continue providing leadership and navigating our community through this crisis.”
Selection Criteria
Successful applicants are vital leaders of their communities and organizations that address the needs of older adults and young children impacted by poverty. They must be in executive/senior leadership positions of influence and have decision-making responsibilities in the organizations they represent. Other factors include commitment to course requirements; experience and career aspirations; adaptability to change; receptivity to learning; ability and willingness to apply lessons learned and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively. The commitment by the organization’s leadership to the participant’s engagement with the Health Leadership Fellows program is essential throughout the fellowship.
History and Impact of the Fellows Program
More than 300 leaders in western and central New York have graduated from Health Leadership Fellows since the program began. Taking what they’ve learned from the expert faculty, residential sessions, leadership assessments and coaching sessions, fellows have used new information, relationships and ideas to improve health care for people in our regions. Many of the projects begun by fellows have thrived and grown, as alumni continue their collaboration through the Fellows Action Network. Today, their projects are still benefiting the health of older adults and children impacted by poverty.
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About the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York
The Health Foundation for Western and Central New York is an independent private foundation that advocates for continuous improvement in health and health care by investing in the people and organizations that serve young children and older adults. For more information, visit www.hfwcny.org.
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