Humana Foundation Advances Equity Through Community-Engaged Research Practices
Grantmakers In Health’s Maya Schane spoke with Heather Hyden and Soojin Conover of the Humana Foundation about the Foundation’s recently published report, Strengthening Science and Community Impact Through Equitable Research Practices. The report examines innovative research methods adopted by the Foundation’s partners to promote health equity in public health research through community-engaged research practices.
Collaborating for Impact: Providing Trust-Based Grantmaking and Technical Assistance to Support Local Resilience to Extreme Weather Events
In the last few years, there has been an increased number of extreme weather events, including wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and heatwaves in the United States. In 2023, the United States experienced 28 disasters that cost at least $1 billion, the largest number of billion-dollar disasters in a single year on record (Smith 2024). While some areas of the country are more susceptible to these threats, there are no regions immune to disasters. According to a recent Gallup poll, 37 percent of adults in the United States report they have been personally impacted by at least one extreme weather event in the last two years, which is higher than the 2022/2023 survey result at 33 percent.
Funding Health Advocacy in Turbulent Times: Three Practices to Adopt
Effective health advocacy is not an easy endeavor, but when executed correctly, the results can be game-changing. Health advocates, whether operating through organizations, coalitions, campaigns, or movements, are accustomed to spending long periods of time with no outwardly visible activity or tangible progress, followed by an immediate sense of urgency and action to seize a window of opportunity. In many ways COVID-19 was one of those windows with phrases like health disparities becoming crystal clear to many.
Promoting Health Equity and Combating Racism Through Health Policy
Not every foundation is comfortable with trying to affect health policy.
Nevertheless, for philanthropies committed to promoting health equity, shaping governmental action at every level is a powerful tool that deserves close examination.
Foundation for a Healthy High Point: November 2022
The rate of teen pregnancy in Greater High Point decreased between 2010 and 2020, the rates of pre-term births, low birth-weight babies, and infant mortality increased slightly and remained above the state average, according to the “Healthy Beginnings in Greater High Point” study.
Episcopal Health Foundation: November 2022
Key findings from a new statewide survey on social determinants of health say that medical care alone isn’t enough for a person to live a healthy life, so the state should invest more resources to address non-medical factors like unemployment, neighborhood conditions, and housing.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation: November 2022
A new report, “Creating a Robust, Diverse, and Resilient Behavioral Health Workforce in Massachusetts” describes challenges that have put the behavioral health workforce in crisis and outlines seven recommendations.