Southcoast Health today announced the recipients of its Community Benefits Impact Opportunity program grants for fiscal year 2018. This annual competitive grant addresses unmet health needs in communities on the South Coast.

“Southcoast Health is a not-for-profit health system, with the mission of promoting the optimal health and well-being of individuals in the communities we serve. We take that mission very seriously, and are dedicated to improving the health of everyone in the South Coast region,” said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Health. “As part of our commitment, we collaborate with our many community partners whose missions also seek to improve health and well-being in the region, and are pleased we can support their work through this grant process,”

Southcoast Health awarded a total of $142,065 to 39 local, non-profit organizations in its third annual Community Benefits Impact Opportunity program grants. During its first three years, the program has awarded 93 community impact grants totaling $409,565.

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.
• 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 grant recipients for fiscal year 2018 represent a variety of programs that have a positive impact on communities across the South Coast. This year, funded initiatives range from a program providing mindfulness training to educators and students to outreach, care coordination and support for those entangled in the opioid crisis. Some of the projects promote wellness through promoting healthy eating and opportunities for physical activity. Others help residents build healthy families and deal with food security and memory issues faced by elders.

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

City of New Bedford Parks and Recreation Department

City of New Bedford Police Department

Coastal Food Shed

Coastline Elderly Services

Community Boating Center, Inc.

Cultural Consultants/Buttonwood Park Neighborhood Association

Diabetes Association, Inc.

Diapers N Things

Family Service Association

Greater Fall River RE-Creation

Greater New Bedford Community Health Center

Groundwork SouthCoast

Henry Lord Community School

Immigrants Assistance Center

Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford

Junior Achievement of Southeastern Massachusetts/Alfred J. Gomes School

Katie Brown Educational Program

NorthStar Learning Centers, Inc.

Old Rochester Regional School District

Positive Action Against Chemical Addiction (PAACA)

PACE New Bedford

Rise Up for Homes

Rochester Police Department

Saint Vincent’s Home

Samaritans of FR/NB Inc.

Steppingstone Incorporated

The Marion Institute

United Neighbors of Fall River

Wareham Area Committee for the Homeless

Wareham School Department

Woods at Wareham/South Shore Advocacy Center

YEAH! Corps

YMCA Southcoast Fall River Branch

Youth Opportunities Unlimited

YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts

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 2016, Southcoast Health invested over $18 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.