Wisconsin Partnership Program announces $2.4 million in Community Collaboration Grant awards
The Wisconsin Partnership Program at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health has announced its 2019 Community Collaboration Grant awards. The awards will provide training and technical assistance and funding to strengthen community organizations’ ability to address health inequities in their communities.
“One way the Wisconsin Partnership Program advances health equity is by supporting organizations and communities that are led by those most affected by health inequities,” says Dr. Amy Kind, associate professor of medicine and chair of the Partnership Program’s Oversight and Advisory Committee. This year’s awards support organizations working to address a broad range of factors that influence health outcomes including: homelessness and housing, poverty, access to healthy foods, employment, racism, trauma and social cohesion.
Grants of $400,000, over four years, were awarded to the following organizations:
A grant to Madison Area Care for the Homeless (MACH OneHealth) will support its efforts to bridge gaps in the Madison health care system by ensuring that individuals experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness have equitable housing and health care.
The Mellowhood Foundation will use its grant to further its efforts to change the quality of life and improve health in this westside Madison community by addressing employment, racism and trauma and through building leadership and community connectedness among underserved youth and families.
Menīkānaehkem, Inc., a grassroots community organization based on the Menominee Reservation in Northeast Wisconsin, will use its award to address poverty, housing and trauma as part of its efforts to rebuild its community and improve health outcomes.
Metcalfe Park Community Bridges Inc. will use its grant to further its efforts to create a healthy, safe and thriving community where neighbors experience social cohesion and access to educational and economic opportunities.
A grant to REAP Food Group increases the capacity of an innovative collaboration between REAP Food Group and Roots4Change Cooperative, a cooperative led by Latina and Indigenous women, to advance health equity by working with the food and health care systems to address individual and collective health and well-being in a holistic, culturally aligned way.
The Wisconsin Partnership Program at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health is committed to improving the health of Wisconsin residents through investments in research, education and community partnerships. The Partnership Program was established in 2004 with funds from the conversion of Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin to a for-profit corporation. To date, the Program has awarded 500 research, education and community grants totaling more than $237 million.