FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2022
Nate Clark
The Vermont Community Foundation
802-388-3355 ex. 246
[email protected]
Ben Truman
Vermont Department of Health
802-316-2117 / 802-863-7281
[email protected]
Funding Available to Community Organizations for Health Equity Capacity Building Grants
Department of Health grant program aims to reduce health disparities
MIDDLEBURY, VT – Funding is now available for community-based organizations that are working to address health disparities in Vermont. Through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Vermont Department of Health has established a Health Equity Capacity Building program that, in partnership with the Vermont Community Foundation, will provide financial and technical support opportunities for community organizations to build their program capacity.
“The COVID-19 pandemic shined a spotlight on health inequities across the country as well as here in Vermont,” said Deputy Health Commissioner Kelly Dougherty. “We learned many lessons, and forged important, new partnerships to support under-resourced communities. These grants and the expertise of the Vermont Community Foundation create an unprecedented opportunity to provide communities with significant resources to address health equity.”
The Health Department has identified reducing health disparities and promoting health equity as fundamental priorities, and the state of Vermont has declared racism to be a public health emergency. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, community-based organizations have been key to effectively reaching populations who are at higher risk as well as those who have been historically underserved. The Health Equity Capacity Building program incorporates lessons learned from efforts to protect and promote the health of Vermonters who have experienced socioeconomic disadvantage, historical injustice, and systemic racism.
The Department of Health will award the Health Equity Capacity Building grants — expected to be in amounts of at least $25,000, with an average of $150,000. The Vermont Community Foundation is supporting the program as a facilitator of the application and technical assistance process.
Organizations working with communities and priority populations can apply for grants now. The initial deadline for applications is May 1, 2022, for funds that will be available on June 1, 2022. Additional applications will be accepted on a rolling basis as funding permits.
In addition, through this process, the Vermont Community Foundation will provide opportunities for technical assistance to organizations for building their capacity and infrastructure to meet the requirements to receive federal funds. Those applications will be accepted on a rolling basis starting on June 1, 2022.
For more information, and to apply for a Health Equity Capacity Building grant, please visit vermontcf.org/health-equity.
For assistance with completing the application, or for translation of the application materials into another language, please contact Al Belluche at [email protected] or 802-388-3355 ext. 247.
To learn more about health equity in Vermont, visit healthvermont.gov/health-equity.
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The Vermont Community Foundation inspires giving and brings people and resources together to make a difference in Vermont. A family of hundreds of funds and foundations, we provide the advice, investment vehicles, and back-office expertise that make it easy for the people who care about Vermont to find and fund the causes they love.
The heart of the Community Foundation’s work is closing the opportunity gap—the divide that leaves too many Vermonters struggling to get ahead, no matter how hard they work. We are aligning our time, energy, and discretionary resources on efforts that provide access to early care and learning, pathways to college and career training, support for youth and families, and community and economic vitality. We envision Vermont at its best—where everyone has the opportunity to build a bright, secure future. Visit vermontcf.org or call 802-388-3355 for more information. For information on our COVID-19 response, visit vtcovid19response.org.
The Department of Health has been the state's public health agency for more than 130 years, working every day for all Vermonters to have a fair and just opportunity to be healthy and live in healthy communities. Visit healthvermont.gov — Join us on Facebook — Follow us on Twitter