In the first quarter of 2024, the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York invested in the following partnerships and programs to advance racial and socioeconomic health equity in western and central New York.
Addressing Maternal Care Needs ($100,000)
Cattaraugus County has limited options for low-income women who are uninsured or on Medicaid. Funding from the Health Foundation will enable the county’s only Federally Qualified Health Center, Universal Primary Care (UPC), to strengthen its comprehensive obstetric and gynecological (OB/GYN) services. Note that $50,000 of this grant award is through a 2022 unsolicited gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
Early Identification of Cognitive Decline ($80,000)
Led by SUNY Upstate Medical University in collaboration with Syracuse University’s Aging Studies Institute, this project provides a screening process for early cognitive impairment at seven Offices for Aging (OFAs) in central New York. The project team will train case managers to administer an evidenced-based screening tool to detect early signs of cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s disease, and refer at-risk clients for comprehensive geriatric assessments. Local OFAs, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the New York Health Foundation are additional funding partners.
Growing Resiliency Through Trauma-Informed Care ($255,000)
Led by Ardent Solutions, this program supports the work of Trauma-Informed Communities Throughout Allegany County (TICTAC) to help children and families who have experienced trauma. It builds on the work of Co-Creating Well-Being by training additional cohorts of “trauma-informed champions,” creating a learning community, and helping organizations become trauma-informed. Growing Resiliency will apply the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) and offer regional resiliency retreats and sessions using the World Café method to facilitate structured conversations.
Imagine Nonviolence ($150,000)
A new initiative, Imagine Nonviolence (IN), will support community-based organizations that are engaged in gun violence prevention. The goal is to provide education on firearm safety, reduce gun violence, and help community members develop effective anti-violence skills. Applications are now open for the first phase of the program, Imagine Nonviolence: Close the Gap, an opportunity to strengthen the impact of violence prevention programs already being funded by local, state, or federal government.
Transforming Rural Health ($150,000)
As New York’s only statewide “voice for rural health,” the New York State Association for Rural Health (NYSARH) advocates for the health and well-being of New Yorkers living in rural communities. The organization’s membership includes 31 health networks across the state. The Health Foundation’s support of NYSARH was made possible by the 2022 gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott and is part of our Transform Rural Health campaign to raise awareness of health disparities in rural New York.
Small Grants ($168,160)
The following projects and programs were granted funding in the amount of $50,000 or under in the first quarter of 2024:
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association through the Rural Health Disparities Microgrant Fund ($3,000)
- Buffalo Toronto Public Media for public interest programming ($33,950)
- Center for Excellence in Health Care Journalism for sponsored fellowships at the 2024 Association of Health Care Journalists Conference ($10,000)
- Cattaraugus Community Action through the Rural Health Disparities Microgrant Fund ($5,000)
- Compeer West for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) support ($3,210)
- Grantmakers in Aging for the Older Americans Reauthorization Proposal Fund ($25,000)
- Grantmakers in Aging for Changing the Care Conversation, Phase 2 ($15,000)
- The Osborne Association for Safeguarding Children of Arrested Parents training ($3,000)
- The Police Athletic League of Buffalo for Healthy Living Farm 2 Fork sponsorship ($20,000)
- Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative ($50,000)
