4 New London Orgs Score Grants From CT Health Foundation

NEW LONDON, CT —Four New London-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.

Ledge Light Health District in New London received $100,000 to demonstrate the value of community health workers in a public health setting who can serve as generalists, with the flexibility to support community members in many ways. The organization is a local health department operating under a nonprofit structure.

Ledge Light Health District (Black Health Collective) in New London 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.

The foundation also awarded "trusted messenger grants" to organizations sharing information about changes related to health care coverage. Locally, these included Child And Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut and Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern Connecticut. Both groups received $15,000.

"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 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."