Positive Youth Development: A Pathway to Healthy Teens

Adolescence is the time when teens are laying the groundwork for their future health and well-being.  This Issue Brief explores how grantmakers can apply youth development principles and asset-based strategies to their grantmaking to promote healthy development and healthy decisionmaking by the adolescents in their communities.

Examining E-Health

Based on a 2002 GIH roundtable meeting, this Issue Brief is intended to help health funders better understand the fluid and dynamic world of e-health. 

The report profiles the work of three foundations active in e-health: California HealthCare Foundation, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Tides Foundation. Their work illustrates the range of foundation activities related to e-health, including: providing leadership both within communities and at the state and national level, including stakeholder convenings, developing a better IT infrastructure within health care;  unding research and development of new applications;  improving technology literacy among  patients and providers and providing technical assistance to potential users; enhancing privacy and security;  supporting demonstration projects, evaluations, and quality measurement; acting as a catalyst for partnerships and collaborations; developing and disseminating tools, research, and best practices; and monitoring e-health activities.

Rx for Progress: Putting Patient Safety Into Practice

This Issue Brief, based on a February 2002 GIH roundtable meeting, explores the work of foundations, government, research, and health care organizations to reduce medical errors and improve patient safety.  The report draws on both foundation and grantee experiences and highlights specific funding strategies, as well as emerging opportunities for foundations that wish to fund patient safety programs and research.

Training the Health Workforce of Tomorrow

In 2001 GIH convened a group of grantmakers and national experts concerned about health workforce issues.  This Issue Brief explores issues related to the supply, composition, and competency of the health workforce, and the role that these factors play in maintaining and improving the health status of individual patients and broader populations.  Specifically, the report focuses on grantmaker activities in four areas: shifting the geographic distribution of the health workforce to ensure access in underserved areas; improving representation among racial and ethnic minorities; addressing the current shortage of nurses, particularly in inpatient settings; and improving health professionals' competency in addressing the complex health care needs of the elderly.

Weighing in on Obesity: America's Growing Health Epidemic

The country is facing double threats:  a dramatic increase in rates of overweight and obesity among children and adults, and an accompanying increase in diabetes and other conditions that threaten the lives and health of the nation's population.  This Issue Brief helps health grantmakers understand the nature of today's epidemic and explore ways they can play a role in identifying and promoting effective prevention and intervention strategies, including tackling the root causes of the problem.

Issue Briefs 2000 and prior

Issue Briefs 2001

Issue Briefs 2003

Issue Briefs 2004

Issue Briefs 2005

Issue Briefs 2006

Issue Briefs 2007