Community-Based Health Initiative Funding

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 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 here.

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 United for Housing & Health).

The Allston Brighton Health Collaborative (ABHC) is a neighborhood-based public health nonprofit that convenes a network of residents, organizations, advocates and elected officials. Network membership is open to anyone who lives in, works in, works on behalf of, or cares about Allston/Brighton. Do you live or work in Allston or Brighton? Are you interested in getting involved? Please email Anna Leslie.

Mission Hill Healthy Neighborhood Collective is comprised of neighborhood residents and representatives from organizations including Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services, Tobin Community Center and Sociedad Latina. Are you a Mission Hill resident? Are you interested in getting involved? Please email Alexandra Oliver-Dávila.

Roxbury United for Housing & Health comprises representatives from Urban Edge, Egleston Square Main Street, the Dimock Health Center, Friends of the Egleston Library, residents, and other neighborhood organizations. Are you a resident of Roxbury? Are you interested in getting involved? Please email Alia Pacombe.

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.

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? Please email 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.