6 Orgs In New Haven Score Grants From CT Health Foundation

NEW HAVEN, CT —Six New Haven-based nonprofit organizations are the recipients of grants from the Connecticut Health Foundation.

The funds are part of 39 grants totaling $1.4 million given to organizations and health departments around the state this quarter.

Christian Community Action received $25,000 and will use this grant to train new advocates for its HEALTH (Helping Everyone Achieve Lifelong Trusted Healthcare) project. The goal is to recruit more members who are young people of color. Participants of HEALTH advocate for policy change that will improve the health of people living in low-income communities of color in Connecticut.

Connecticut Voices for Children will use its $20,000 grant funding to relaunch its HUSKY manual, which provides information about eligibility for the state’s Medicaid program. The organization's work will involve building relationships with state agencies, policymakers and advocates to understand the current Medicaid advocacy landscape.

Efforts to expand HUSKY coverage to people in Connecticut regardless of immigration status have been led by the HUSKY 4 Immigrants coalition. Connecticut Health Foundation awarded grants to organizations that are committed to engaging in advocacy work focused on coverage expansion. In New Haven, these include $10,000 to the HAVEN Free Clinic, and $20,000 for Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services Inc.

Full Citizens Coalition in New Haven scored a $30,000 Patricia Baker Award for Health Equity Police and Advocacy. These grants are intended to support grassroots organizations that are led by people of color and focus on work that advances health equity.

Yale New Haven Health was awarded $20,000 as part of the Sanford Cloud Awards for Diverse Advocacy, Policy, and Equity. The organization will use the funding to support coalition and network building of the Healthier Greater New Haven Partnership, a group of health departments and districts, community action agencies, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, business owners, and community residents.

"We know community health workers are extremely valuable when it comes to improving health outcomes. Our hope is these programs will also show the value of these roles within local health departments when given the latitude to be responsive to the needs of community members," said said Connecticut Health Foundation President and CEO Tiffany Donelson in a news release. "Expanding community health worker services in public settings can help the state make even more progress toward eliminating health disparities."