Philanthropy’s Impact on Health Care Systems: Supporting the Creation of a Community-Health Worker-Based Chronic Care Management Model in Appalachia

Guided by its mission of “helping people help themselves,” the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation strategically invests in the creative problem-solving activities of local communities and individuals. For the past decade, the Benedum Foundation has accomplished this mission in its support of a particular health care delivery model: efficient chronic disease management through a medical model leveraging the skills of community health workers in Appalachia. This model provides unique patient care, has shown success for improving the health conditions of a target population, and reduced health care costs—accomplishments that align with the Institute of Health Improvement’s Triple Aim framework.

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Cara V. James in KFF Health News on Child Care Gaps in Rural America

Grantmakers In Health (GIH) President and CEO Cara V. James was quoted in a KFF Health News article on January 2, 2024, titled “Child Care Gaps in Rural America Threaten to Undercut Small Communities.” The piece outlines the state of inequitable child care access, how this gap negatively impacts the sustainability and longevity of rural communities, and policy aimed at reducing costs and combatting workforce shortages.

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Appalachia Funders Network: October 2023

Reports

Appalachia Funders Network shared the results from a recently completed asset scan of the six-state, 257-county region, noting opportunities for philanthropic investment. The goal of the asset scan was to create a data-informed framework for funders that would guide targeted investments in Central Appalachia.

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2023 Rural Health Road Trip—Collaboration in Big Sky Country

It is hard to believe we are approaching the end of summer. It has been a bit of a blur, going from one conference to the next, and planning for fall meetings. For the second year since joining GIH, I was able to participate in our rural health road trip, an annual tradition started by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy and National Rural Health Association in 2014.

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Exploring the Impact of Vaccine Equity Grants in Rural Communities of Color

The Rx Foundation launched a rapid response Vaccine Equity grant program in March 2021 as it became clear that communities had unequal access to newly available COVID-19 vaccines. The goal was to fund organizations that were positioned to improve access to vaccines for groups marginalized by or unable to access existing systems and to do outreach and have conversations with people about their vaccine concerns and questions.

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