NPCHF Awards $231,000 in Grants

Colmar, PA – The North Penn Community Health Foundation recently awarded grants totaling $231,250 to ten organizations in Montgomery County. The grants were part of the foundation’s new focus on changing systems to improve the safety net for vulnerable residents.

Earlier this year, the foundation announced the rollout of new funding priorities through which it will provide grants to organizations seeking to improve systems in three specific areas:  health care, housing and homelessness prevention, and food security and nutrition. Through a fourth fund – the Catalyst Fund – the foundation will invest in research, stakeholder convening and related efforts that build upon the activities in the other three priority areas.

“All of us operate within the safety net. Service providers, the government, commercial payers, funders and others belong to at least one “system,” and interact with and depend on others,” stated foundation president and CEO Russell Johnson. “Altering or transforming how those elements in a system are linked, function and influence one another has promise to produce better outcomes for those served and require less investment from funders and taxpayers.”

During 2013, the foundation has awarded grants in support of systems change efforts to health care organizations through the Health Opportunities Fund, and other organizations via the Catalyst Fund.

The Health Opportunities Fund is designed to actively promote changes to Montgomery County’s health system that improve access, coordination of service and patient care quality. The recent grants made through this fund are:

• $50,000 over six months to the Abramson Center for Jewish Life to convene a stakeholder workgroup that will develop an understanding of ongoing efforts to fulfill the needs of the dual eligible (those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid) elderly population in Montgomery County and develop a plan to address gaps in the system for access and service delivery.
• $30,000 over two years to Grand View Hospital to inform all pregnant and postpartum moms on the benefits of breastfeeding to increase breastfeeding rates, fully integrate breastfeeding into their clinical education program and achieve the designation of a Baby Friendly Hospital.
• $25,000 over one year to Network of Victim Assistance, in conjunction with Indian Creek Foundation, to develop an innovative personal safety and healthy relationship education curriculum for teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• $40,000 over one year to Encore Experiences at Harleysville to work with the Benefits Data Trust to educate seniors about various public benefit programs – such as SNAP or LIHEAP – and assist eligible seniors with the enrollment process.
• $25,000 to the VNA Community Services, Inc. to expand its Personal Navigator program to help vulnerable populations throughout the county access various public benefit programs.

“Systems change does not necessarily entail big, sweeping transformations,” continued Johnson. “Some of these efforts, such as Grand View Hospital’s work to more effectively promote breastfeeding and become a Baby Friendly Hospital, are about shifting internal systems to produce better outcomes. Others, such as Network of Victim Assistance’s personal safety program, seek to develop a best practice model that could be replicated by other organizations working with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.”

Seven grants totaling $61,250 were awarded through the Catalyst Fund, including $5,000 in support of an economic impact study commissioned by the Pennsylvania Health Funders Collaborative on the possible expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

Information about all of the foundation’s grants can be found on the Grants Awarded section of the website.