Goal:
To promote health equity in Marin County
Overview:
Because of social, economic, and political inequities that exist in Marin, low-income residents and people of color are more likely to struggle with poor health than their higher-income/white counterparts. MCF is committed to addressing these inequities by ensuring access to health services and supporting upstream efforts to change environments that impact health outcomes. The Foundation works from the premise that individuals with access to quality, affordable, and culturally appropriate health services and living in healthy communities are more likely to lead healthy lives. Reducing health disparities ultimately creates a stronger community.
Under this goal, MCF will support projects that incorporate the following strategy and approaches:
Strategy: Improve the health of underserved residents
Approach A: Provide health insurance for children
Approach B: Strengthen the delivery of health services
Approach C: Address the social determinants of health
A logic model for this strategy has been developed that further explains the approaches, activities, and desired impact of this goal area.
Note: The term “health equity” is used by the Marin Community Foundation as a way to describe the absence of significant differences in health and well-being among different groups based on socio-economic status, race/ethnicity, gender, and/or immigration status. The term “underserved residents” refers to low-income residents, people of color, LGBT residents, immigrants, and those who are uninsured or underinsured. “Social determinants of health” refers to economic, social, cultural, and physical factors that contribute to health status in an individual or populations including income, education level, living/working environment, and health care access.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for funding under Approach B or C organizations must:
- have a nonprofit tax-exempt status or a fiscal sponsor with a nonprofit tax exempt status
- provide services or support to underserved populations in Marin County
- have a clear evaluation plan to measure the impact of the proposed project on the health of underserved individuals and/or communities
- demonstrate partnerships within and beyond the traditional health service sector that will leverage resources aimed at promoting health equity and eliminating health disparities in Marin County
Nonprofit community clinics and health and wellness centers can apply for direct health services funding under Approach B. Priority consideration will be given to proposals that focus on strengthening the delivery of health services using a coordinated approach among a diverse group of providers to identify, treat, and prevent chronic disease among underserved patients. Integrated care may include direct health services, case management, and health education. Applicants will be asked to identify the health disparity or health disparities the proposed project will specifically address, in part, with Marin Community Foundation funds.
Collaborative partnerships, networks, and coalitions will be considered for funding under Approach B when the focus of the proposed project aims to strengthen the health service delivery system that supports underserved residents through planning, resource coordination, and system-wide problem solving.
Support for nonprofit organizations is available to address the social determinants of health under Approach C. A key social determinant of health that plays a significant role in chronic disease is access to affordable healthy food. Special consideration will be given to projects that propose to research, plan, implement and/or evaluate projects that improve access to locally grown, healthy food for underserved Marin residents. MCF is also interested in supporting systemic changes that will improve access to healthy food (e.g. public policy development and advocacy). MCF is especially committed to ensuring underserved residents participate in and benefit from sustainable agriculture and healthy food programs.
MCF is committed to advancing the goal to promote health equity in Marin County. To assess progress toward this goal, MCF requires grantees to collect data and report on measurable outcomes. In partnership with grantees, the Foundation looks forward to learning more about which activities and supports effectively improve community health.
Grant term:
If awarded a grant, the twelve-month grant term will be July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. Six-month, nine-month, and final reports will be required through the Foundation’s online Grant Evaluation Center.
Process:
Approach A: Funds under this approach are already allocated to subsidize health insurance premiums for children who do not qualify for public programs. This approach will not use an open competitive grants process.
Approaches B and C: Organizations applying for support under these approaches should register with the Grant Application Center starting January 11, 2010, which is the Registration Open Date for this community grant area. The Grant Application Center enables you to complete and submit all application materials online.
Once you have registered, please complete and submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), even if you have received funding from MCF in the past for this kind of work.
If your LOI is approved, you will be notified how to prepare and submit a full proposal, also using the Grant Application Center.
Deadline for LOI: 2/18/2011
Full Proposals invited: 3/1/2011
Deadline for Full Proposal (if invited): 4/1/2011
