Nonprofit Health Organization Engages Patient Voices through Mobile Technology
HARTFORD - October 26, 2012 - The Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) Board of Directors awarded $25,000 to the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut, Inc. (CHCACT) to launch a mobile, social media and advocacy campaign, "Txt 2B Heard." The aim of the campaign is to reduce health disparities and improve health policy making in Connecticut by providing opportunities for health care consumers to inform decision making.
Health center patients will be asked to express their opinions and perspectives on health care delivery and reform via text message. This campaign also allows the patients to voice what they want and need from the health care system. Themes that emerge from the patients' voices will be compiled into a report for health center leaders and policy makers at the highest level of decision-making in the state.
"Contacting policy makers directly and testifying at public hearings can be intimidating or unavailable for many consumers whose lives are most impacted by decisions made at the State Capitol," says Siobahn Kinney, the project director of Txt 2B Heard.
Kinney added, "Txt 2B Heard and other social media efforts are highly effective tools for reaching consumers, and can transform policy making in Connecticut!"
Center for Children's Advocacy (Hartford) was awarded $75,000 to support general operations to continue its work to legal services to improve equity and access to services in children's health, mental health and special education systems.
Code Jump Start (Redding) was awarded a $20,000 grant to establish a public-private partnership, which focuses on patient safety in the health care system.
Community Health Center, Inc. (Middletown) received a $58,433 grant to examine the difference in utilization of oral health services by pregnant women and children birth to 5 years based on location of dental services relative to primary care services.
Connecticut Association of Human Services (CAHS) (Hartford) was awarded $25,000 to support health care enrollment via the Earned Benefits Online software program that enables community based organizations to assist clients with determining eligibility for 12 health and human service programs.
Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services(Statewide) was awarded a $48,000 grant to integrate and coordinate care between physical and behavioral health providers.
Corporation for Supportive Housing (Hartford) was awarded a $50,000 Social Innovation Fund matching grant to further develop and evaluate a model of integrated supportive housing and medical home services for the homeless in Connecticut.
The Academy for Parents (Hartford) was awarded a $3,660 grant to implement a health literacy curriculum that emphasizes preventative health for people of color, provider-patient communication and patient responsibility and empowerment.
Over the past 12 years, CT Health has awarded grants totaling more than $47.5 million in throughout the state in three priority areas:
* Improving access to children's mental health services
* Reducing racial and ethnic health disparities
* Expanding access to and use of children's oral health services
For more information about the foundation, please visit www.cthealth.org or contact Senior Communications Officer Maryland Grier at Maryland@cthealth.org or 860.724.1580, ext. 21.
HARTFORD - October 26, 2012 - The Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) Board of Directors awarded $25,000 to the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut, Inc. (CHCACT) to launch a mobile, social media and advocacy campaign, "Txt 2B Heard." The aim of the campaign is to reduce health disparities and improve health policy making in Connecticut by providing opportunities for health care consumers to inform decision making.
Health center patients will be asked to express their opinions and perspectives on health care delivery and reform via text message. This campaign also allows the patients to voice what they want and need from the health care system. Themes that emerge from the patients' voices will be compiled into a report for health center leaders and policy makers at the highest level of decision-making in the state.
"Contacting policy makers directly and testifying at public hearings can be intimidating or unavailable for many consumers whose lives are most impacted by decisions made at the State Capitol," says Siobahn Kinney, the project director of Txt 2B Heard.
Kinney added, "Txt 2B Heard and other social media efforts are highly effective tools for reaching consumers, and can transform policy making in Connecticut!"
OTHER GRANTS AWARDED
Center for Children's Advocacy (Hartford) was awarded $75,000 to support general operations to continue its work to legal services to improve equity and access to services in children's health, mental health and special education systems.
Code Jump Start (Redding) was awarded a $20,000 grant to establish a public-private partnership, which focuses on patient safety in the health care system.
Community Health Center, Inc. (Middletown) received a $58,433 grant to examine the difference in utilization of oral health services by pregnant women and children birth to 5 years based on location of dental services relative to primary care services.
Connecticut Association of Human Services (CAHS) (Hartford) was awarded $25,000 to support health care enrollment via the Earned Benefits Online software program that enables community based organizations to assist clients with determining eligibility for 12 health and human service programs.
Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services(Statewide) was awarded a $48,000 grant to integrate and coordinate care between physical and behavioral health providers.
Corporation for Supportive Housing (Hartford) was awarded a $50,000 Social Innovation Fund matching grant to further develop and evaluate a model of integrated supportive housing and medical home services for the homeless in Connecticut.
The Academy for Parents (Hartford) was awarded a $3,660 grant to implement a health literacy curriculum that emphasizes preventative health for people of color, provider-patient communication and patient responsibility and empowerment.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
The Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) is the state's largest independent health philanthropy dedicated to improving lives by changing health systems. Since it was established in July 1999, the foundation has supported innovative grant-making, public health policy research, technical assistance and convening to achieve its mission - to improve the health of the people of Connecticut. Over the past 12 years, CT Health has awarded grants totaling more than $47.5 million in throughout the state in three priority areas:
* Improving access to children's mental health services
* Reducing racial and ethnic health disparities
* Expanding access to and use of children's oral health services
For more information about the foundation, please visit www.cthealth.org or contact Senior Communications Officer Maryland Grier at Maryland@cthealth.org or 860.724.1580, ext. 21.
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