Funded projects include health equity advocacy; the establishment of age-friendly health systems; and DEI advancement.
In the first quarter of 2022, the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York awarded grants totaling $282,750 to organizations across western and central New York for projects that are enhancing the health of their communities. These programs include:
Fellows Action Network – DEI Advancement ($10,000)
These funds will support the Fellows Action Network’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice committee as they continue their long-term strategy to center equity principles in the work of the FAN, including analysis of recent member surveys and determination of actionable priorities for the committee in their pursuit of racial equity. The FAN is comprised of over 300 graduates of the Health Foundation’s Health Leadership Fellows program.
Jamestown Baby Café – GetREADY ($36,775)
The Jamestown Baby Café will participate in a 12-month capacity-building program that provides assistance and coaching to strengthen the organization’s infrastructure and governance functions. GetREADY is designed to help small organizations that are vital to the health and well-being of the community in the promotion of quality programs and services, and to help ensure organizational stability.
The Jamestown Baby Café is a newly formed nonprofit organization that serves mothers with a focus on those impacted by poverty in Chautauqua County with the goal of improving breastfeeding rates and healthy birth spacing. At the end of the 12-month program, the organization will have completed an in-depth assessment that will identify infrastructure areas that require attention; produced a three-year capacity-building plan that will provide guidance and direction for strengthening the organization’s infrastructure; and created governance-related processes and documents.
New York State Action Community – Building an Age-Friendly Health System Phase 2 ($10,000)
Cayuga Medical Center will receive a grant stipend to support their participation in the Age-Friendly Health Systems – New York State Action Community Phase 2. This stipend will support implementation of their plan to achieve Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) recognition as an Age-Friendly Health System.
Say Yes Buffalo – Health Home Care Coordinator Program Expansion ($164,475)
Say Yes Buffalo (SYB) will expand their current Early Childhood Health Home Care Coordination Project. SYB will add two additional Care Coordinators who will serve five different Buffalo Public School (BPS) classrooms for children ages 3-5. Through this local program, SYB Coordinators will collaborate with BPS staff to administer early childhood screenings to all BPS preschoolers. Coordinators will identify children who are not meeting their developmental milestones and will proactively connect them with needed services as soon as they enter school. The primary goal is to increase high school and postsecondary completion rates which is more achievable when children’s needs are addressed early on.
StoryGrowing WNY ($60,000)
The Health Foundation will collaborate again with the John R. Oishei Foundation on a third cohort of StoryGrowing WNY to strengthen the communications and storytelling capacity of Western New York nonprofit organizations. After a one-day kickoff workshop (open to all area nonprofit organizations) led by renowned storytelling expert Andy Goodman, eight organizations will be selected to participate in the program. Participants will take part in a series of intensive half-day workshops led by local communications experts on a variety of topics, including brand development, media relations, and ethical storytelling. Teams will gain actionable skills and knowledge they can apply in support of their organizational missions.
Learn more about applying for Health Foundation funding here.
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 for the people and communities of western and central New York. The Health Foundation’s vision is a healthy central and western New York where racial and socioeconomic equity are prioritized so all people can reach their full potential and achieve equitable health outcomes. For more information, please visit www.hfwcny.org.
