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Southcoast Health announced today the recipients of its Community Benefits Impact Opportunity program grants for fiscal year 2019. These annual, competitive grants address unmet health needs in communities on the South Coast.
“We are passionate about improving the health of our patients and our communities, and mitigating the social conditions that contribute to poor health. As a leading healthcare provider, Southcoast Health plays a critical leadership role in our community,” said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Health. “One of the greatest attributes of our region is a unique spirit of collaboration. We are fortunate to have this opportunity to support and collaborate with so many worthy organizations across our region that are making a positive difference for individuals and families here in the South Coast.”
This year, Southcoast Health received an overwhelming response to the request for proposals and has committed to funding 18 programs from across the region. Southcoast Health awarded a total of $150,000 in its fourth annual Community Benefits Impact Opportunity program grants. During its first four years, the program has awarded 111 community impact grants totaling $559,565.
Grant recipients’ goals align with Southcoast Health’s community benefits priorities, which are based on a comprehensive health needs assessment. These identified priorities for our region include:
• Reduction of the high rate of chronic disease in our region, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, cancer and other diseases.
• Reducing health disparities, including racial and ethnic disparities, income-based disparities, and education-based disparities.
• Reduction in the incidence of youth risk behaviors such as teen violence, high rates of teen pregnancy and substance abuse.
• Behavioral health issues that include substance abuse and mental health, with improved coordination of a regional behavioral health system.
• Reducing homelessness in our region through collaborative efforts on issues including education and housing.
• Development of healthy “system and environment” change, including healthy food options, increased access to free and low-cost opportunities for active living such as public parks, bike trails etc., and reduction in the high rate of smoking in our communities.
• Maternal and children’s health, including fetal and infant health, abuse and neglect, hospitalizations, substance abuse, healthy weight and mortality.
The selected grantees for fiscal year 2019 represent a variety of programs that positively impact communities across the South Coast. This year, funded initiatives range from a program providing health screenings to the homeless to supporting case management for those struggling with an opioid use disorder. Some of the projects promote wellness through promoting healthy eating and opportunities for physical activity. Others help residents build healthy families through positive youth development and provide socialization for elders experiencing memory issues and their caregivers.
Organizations awarded grants this year are:
• Acushnet Council on Aging
• Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Fall River
• Boy’s and Girl’s Club of New Bedford/Wareham
• City of New Bedford Community Services Department
• Community Economic Development Center of SE MA
• Father Bill’s & Mainspring in collaboration with Wareham Area Committee for the Homeless
• Grace Church: Laundry of Love
• Greater New Bedford Community Health Center
• Immigrants Assistance Center
• Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford
• Junior Achievement of Southeastern Massachusetts
• Our Sisters School
• People Inc.: Diabetes Association, Inc.
• SSTAR: Family Health Center
• Steppingstone Incorporated
• United Neighbors of Fall River
• YMCA Southcoast: Gleason
• Youth Opportunities Unlimited
Visit www.southcoast.org/communitybenefits to learn more about Southcoast Health’s overall impact on the communities it serves.
The annual Community Benefits Impact Opportunity program is part of larger community benefits effort, which positively impacts hundreds of thousands of residents on the South Coast. In the most recently reported fiscal year 2017, Southcoast Health invested almost $19 million in community benefits initiatives, including charity care, hospital-based programs, collaboration with federally qualified community health centers, regional health and human service partnerships and support of community health programs.
Cutline: Keith Hovan, President and CEO of Southcoast Health, and Rachel Davis, Manager of Community Benefits for Southcoast Health, (both far left) celebrate with representatives from area non-profits that received Community Benefits Impact Opportunity program grants totaling $150,000.
About Southcoast Health
Southcoast Health is a not-for-profit, charitable organization and the largest provider of primary and specialty care in the region, serving communities in Rhode Island and across Southeastern Massachusetts. Southcoast Health was named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2019 inaugural list.
Out of the 2,743 considered hospitals in the US, only 250 earned this recognition. Southcoast Hospitals Group ranked 162. With a network of more than 600 physicians, hospitalists and mid-level practitioners, Southcoast Health is comprised of three acute care hospitals — Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, and Tobey Hospital in Wareham, and also provides behavioral health services in partnership with Acadia at Southcoast Behavioral Health in Dartmouth.
Southcoast Health’s seven Urgent Care Centers, two Centers for Cancer Care, visiting nurse association and numerous additional ambulatory facilities offer convenience and access to services for more than 724,000 residents in 33 communities covering over 900 square miles in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. With more than 7,500 employees, Southcoast Health is the largest employer in Southeastern Mass., and the 18th largest employer in the Commonwealth according to the Boston Business Journal.
Southcoast Health is proud of our mission of providing high-quality affordable healthcare to our patients and proud of our tradition of eliminating the barriers that prevent access to care. More information is available online at www.southcoast.org. Connect to Southcoast Health through social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Southcoast® is a registered trademark of Southcoast Health System.
