Community-Based Health Initiative Funding

Boston Cohort Grantees

In January 2024, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center announced that 10 local organizations and one City of Boston agency were selected to receive a total of $7.25M over three years in funding for initiatives addressing housing affordability, jobs and financial security and behavioral health.

This funding represents the final major investment out of a total of approximately $30 million dollars that have been allocated as part of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Determination of Need (DoN) process for BIDMC's Klarman Building.

BIDMC extends heartfelt appreciation to the inaugural cohort of Boston grantees, who have done incredible and impactful work from 2021-2023, especially in light of the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. These organizations have been outstanding partners in addressing the root causes of inequities in our communities.

Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative

After engaging with residents in their communities over the summer and early fall, collectives in Allston/Brighton, Mission Hill and Roxbury developed project proposals that aligned with resident-selected priorities.

• Allston/Brighton: The Allston Brighton Health Collaborative will develop and support a cohort of Allston-Brighton Connectors (ABCs) that understand information and service gaps, connect residents to resources and programming and work with residents around advocacy.
• Mission Hill: The Mission Hill Healthy Neighborhood Collaborative will implement intergenerational programming that will connect youth and older adults through activities that build a sense of belonging and interconnectedness among these different age groups.
• Roxbury: The Roxbury Collaborative for Affordable Housing, working alongside other agencies, will provide Roxbury residents with tools to advance rent control as a policy to address displacement and housing affordability.

On June 15, 2023, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) celebrated the work of organizations with which it partners and supports through its Community Benefits program, including the Community Care Alliance (CCA) health center network and its Community-based Health Initiative. Over 250 people attended this community event at the new Klarman Building, including Board members, grantees, staff from CCA health centers, BIDMC staff and clinicians, and members of the community. View the presenters' digital posters from the event.

Boston Cohort Grantees

Health Resources in Action (HRiA), a non-profit public health organization, is conducting an overarching evaluation of the Community-based Health Initiative (CHI). HRiA has put together an Annual Interim Evaluation report Executive Summary to highlight early trends in outcomes and impact, and to describe the key outcomes that will continue to be tracked. This data should be considered preliminary as data collection will continue until Fall 2023. Read the Executive Summary.

Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative

BIDMC's Allocation Committee selected the final three Health Neighborhood Initiative Collectives focused on the Boston Neighborhoods of Allston/Brighton (Allston Brighton Health Collaborative), Mission Hill (Mission Hill Healthy Neighborhood Collective), and Roxbury (Roxbury Collaborative for Affordable Housing).

Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative

BIDMC's Allocation Committee approved project proposals for the Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative Collectives representing Bowdoin/Geneva, Fenway/Kenmore, Chinatown and the City of Chelsea

Chinatown

Chinatown HOPE (Health, Opportunities, Possibilities, Empowerment) is comprised of neighborhood residents and representatives from organizations including Asian Community Development Corporation, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC), Chinatown Community Land Trust, Chinatown Main Street, Chinatown Resident Association, Chinese Progressive Association, Josiah Quincy Elementary School, and Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy.

Are you a resident of Chinatown? Are you interested in getting involved? Please email Heang Rubin.

City of Chelsea

Chelsea Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative is comprised of neighborhood residents and representatives from organizations including Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc. (CAPIC, Inc.), Chelsea Black Community, Chelsea Community Connections Coalition, Chelsea Police Department, City of Chelsea, GreenRoots, La Colaborativa, MGH Healthy Chelsea Coalition, ROCA, and The Neighborhood Developers.

Are you a Chelsea resident? Are you interested in getting involved? Please email Cara Cogliano.

In April 2022, BIDMC selected the second cohort of Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative (HNI) collectives, focused on the Boston neighborhood of Chinatown (Chinatown HOPE (Health, Opportunities, Possibilities, Empowerment)) and the City of Chelsea (Chelsea HNI).

Boston-based Grantees

Over the past year, BIDMC's grantees completed their planned program planning period and some grantees have begun program implementation. During the planning phase grantees met with BIDMC's independent evaluator, Health Resources in Action, and attended seven Evaluation Learning Collaboratives. The work completed during the planning phase will help grantees measure the level of impact their program has on their community.

Chelsea

BIDMC awarded funding to La Colaborativa to address jobs and financial security for residents of the City of Chelsea. The funding will support job opportunities for youth.

Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative (HNI)

BIDMC selected the first two Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative collectives, focused on the Boston neighborhoods of Bowdoin/Geneva (Healthy Bowdoin Geneva) and Fenway/Kenmore (We’re Here for You: Fenway/Kenmore).

Healthy Bowdoin Geneva

Healthy Bowdoin Geneva is comprised of neighborhoods residents and representatives from organizations including: Bowdoin Geneva Main Streets, Bowdoin Street Health Center, Cape Verdean Association of Boston, Catholic Charities Teen Center at Saint Peter's, Dorchester CARES Coalition, Dorchester Catholic Parishes, Dorchester Food Co-Op, Family Nurturing Center, Friends of Geneva Cliffs, Friends of Ronan Park, Greater Bowdoin Geneva Neighborhood Association, Meetinghouse Hill Civic Association, and UP Academy Dorchester School.

Are you a resident of Bowdoin/Geneva? Are you interested in getting involved in this exciting effort? Pleaseemail Richard Claytor.

We're Here for You: Fenway/Kenmore

We're Here for You: Fenway Kenmore includes neighborhood residents and representatives from Audubon Circle Neighborhood Association, Fenway Alliance, Fenway Civic Association, Fenway Community Center, Fenway Community Development Corporation, Fenway Health, HallKeen Management, Northeastern University, Operation P.E.A.C.E., Wentworth Institute of Technology, and more.

Please email Iris Tan if you're a resident of Fenway/Kenmore and you would like to get involved.

In August 2020, BIDMC released a Community-based Health Initiative Request for Proposals (RFP) to fund the implementation of evidence-based and/or evidence-informed strategies in the areas of housing affordability, jobs and financial security, and behavioral health. BIDMC's Allocation Committee oversaw the transparent and competitive process to select the first cohort of non-profit organizations to fund. BIDMC also awarded funding to a behavioral health organization serving residents of the City of Chelsea. Visit the funded organizations page to learn more about our grantees.

Select health priorities and local strategies for funding

Using community feedback and existing research, the Community Advisory Committee voted on and approved four health priorities: housing affordability, jobs and financial security, behavioral health, and healthy neighborhoods. The Committee also approved related sub-priorities and funding percentages to be allocated.

Collect input from local residents, community leaders and other key informants on health priorities

BIDMC held public meetings in Allston/Brighton, Bowdoin/Geneva, Chinatown, Fenway/Kenmore, and Roxbury/Mission Hill in June 2019. At these meetings, residents shared their opinions and experiences and participated in small group discussions. BIDMC learned more about the community’s top health priorities, such as housing, education, access to care, mental health, and jobs and financial security. Some residents also expressed health priorities or concerns that were specific to their neighborhoods. The information shared with us guided the selection of health priorities to focus on.