“This initiative exemplifies a strong health equity focus,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director of the Hogg Foundation. “For us, equity means two things: first, inclusion of all members of the community, not as a client population but as leaders and guiding voices; and second, a widened focus that includes whole community transformation as much as individual well-being.”
The Hogg Foundation invites eligible organizations in Texas to apply for the Communities of Care initiative by January 9, 2019. The initiative is designed to support community resilience, mental health and well-being in the Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) with a special focus on children and youth of color and their families.
The foundation plans to award up to 12 community grants totaling $8 million, and an additional $3 million grant for an initiative coordinator and evaluation and learning team. The foundation will consider proposed project budgets ranging from $500,000 to $800,000 per applicant, contingent upon demonstrated community need.
Each grantee will build on an existing community collaborative composed of diverse sectors and community members who will assess the current environment, and plan and implement strategies, services and supports to create healthier communities. This focus grows out of the Hogg Foundation’s new strategic direction, which prioritizes marginalized populations as a primary focus for improving mental health at the community and systems levels.
Communities of Care is similar in concept to the Collaborative Approaches to Well-being in Rural Communities initiative that launched in July 2018, with the main difference being that this new initiative focuses on children, youth and families of color in the predominantly urban Houston MSA.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for the foundation and communities to take part in a collaborative process to learn how to support everyone’s mental health,” said program manager Vicky Coffee. “This is about more than improving services,” said program officer Stephany Bryan. “It’s about working with communities to address disparities and cultivate resiliency.”
Learn more about this grant opportunity, key dates and resources, and how to apply. Proposals are due January 9, 2019.
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