For Immediate Release: Jan. 25, 2022 

Media Contact:  
Katie Warchut │ Vermont Department of Health 
802-951-1276 / 802-863-7281 
[email protected] 
  


Health Department Awards $4.8 Million in Grants to Local Organizations to Address COVID-19 Disparities and Advance Health Equity 

BURLINGTON, VT – The Vermont Department of Health, in partnership with the Vermont Community Foundation, has awarded grants totaling $4.8 million to 30 local organizations in 11 counties to support efforts to address COVID-19 disparities and advance health equity in their communities. 

Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the grants are designed to bolster organizational capacity to focus on the needs of populations who have experienced socioeconomic disadvantage, historical injustice, racism, and other systemic inequities. 

“Public health happens at the local level, and these awards recognize that it takes many hands to ensure everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be healthy,” said Ashley Kraybill, director of the Health Department’s Office of Health Equity Integration. “Through the expertise of these organizations and the Vermont Community Foundation, we can acknowledge, engage and meet the challenges of our shared history and systemic inequities, and come out with better health outcomes for all Vermonters — particularly those who have experienced historical injustices.”   

Projects supported through these awards include closing the health access gap for those living in rural areas, enhancing language access for providers and patients, expanding health services for neurodivergent individuals, building programs for LGBTQ+ communities living in rural areas, and creating healing spaces for Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) communities who have experienced systemic oppression.  

Dan Smith, president and CEO of the Vermont Community Foundation, added: “The Community Foundation brings people and resources together to make a difference in Vermont, and it’s an honor to share our experience and deep community connections with the Department of Health as we work towards increasing all our neighbors’ ability to lead healthy, vibrant lives.” 

For more information about the Health Equity Capacity Building grants, visit vermontcf.org/health-equity.  

Learn more about the Health Department’s Office of Health Equity Integration at healthvermont.gov/about-us/our-vision-mission/health-equity 

Health Equity Capacity Building Grant Awardees: 

Abenaki Helping Abenaki   

Aging in Hartland  

All Brains Belong VT 

Bi-State Primary Care Association 

Open Door Clinic 

Come Alive Outside 

Conscious Homestead 

Greater Falls Connections  

Inner Space 

Janet S Munt Family Room  

Maquam Bay of Missisquoi 

Orleans County Restorative Justice Center 

Out in the Open 

Outright Vermont 

Pride Center of Vermont

Social Tinkering 

Sunrise Family Resource Center  

SUSU CommUNITY Farm 

The Root Social Justice Center 

The Winooski Parents & Students Project  

United Way of Lamoille County 

United Way of Windham County 

Vermont Cultural Brokering Program 

Vermont CARES  

Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council 

Vermont Health Equity Initiative 

Vermont Language Justice Project 

Vermont Racial Justice Alliance  

Vermont Psychiatric Survivors, Inc. 

Winooski Valley Park District 

 

# # # 

About the Department of Health 
We have been the state's public health agency for more than 130 years, working every day to protect and promote the health of Vermonters. Visit healthvermont.gov ─ Join us @healthvermont on FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube