PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

May 2008

Outlining Our Approach to Grant-making in 2008

The Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) can achieve its strategic objectives only through strong partnerships and alliances, which makes CT Health’s grantees central to any success. Developing strong alliances requires clearly stated expectations, which is why I am writing to outline CT Health’s approach to grant-making in 2008.

In 2007, CT Health adopted a 10-year strategic plan, which specified the objectives in each of our three program priorities: children’s mental health, racial and ethnic health disparities, and children’s oral/dental health (goals and objectives listed below). 

In addition to introducing the foundation’s new objectives in 2007, the year also was a transition period, both for those seeking funds and for the foundation, which researched new approaches and tested hypotheses.  Our new objectives and approaches began to take shape at the close of 2007, as CT Health approved our first solicited grants under the new children’s mental health, health literacy and oral health sustainability objectives to 11 Connecticut communities. 

In 2008, two new requests for proposal (RFPs) will be issued, both aimed at racial and ethnic health inequity objectives.  These new initiatives begin the strategic focusing required for progress on these ambitious goals and objectives.  Each RFP will be based on our strategy for health care systems change. 

What does all this mean to you?  First, stay informed about our activities through our website, where all RFPs will be posted upon release.  Second, much of the grant-making budget in 2008 is dedicated to CT Health’s solicited RFPs, rather than unsolicited.  Very limited funds are available for unsolicited proposals. To be considered, any unsolicited proposal must meet at least one of our previously stated, specific strategic objectives and must address systems change. 

Your work is greatly appreciated, as is the fact your missions go beyond our strategic objectives and the demands on your organization are many. Time, as well as dollars, is a valuable resource. So, rather than disappoint or take your time, I am writing to make clear the grant-making process and criteria.  

Before submitting a concept paper for a solicited (RFP), unsolicited or discretionary grant, I encourage you to contact Will Crimi, CT Health vice president of program and evaluation, to ensure your concept meets the foundation’s objectives (will@cthealth.org).  This strategic perspective will be the lens through which the foundation views any proposal.

Connecticut Health Foundation Goals and Objectives

Children’s Mental Health

Goal:  Reduce the number of at-risk children ages 6-14 entering intensive treatment and/or the juvenile justice system due to mental health problems.

Objectives:

• Support the development and dissemination of knowledge in early identification and effective interventions relating to children’s mental health
• Promote a community-based system of early identification and intervention for children at risk of mental health problems. 

Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

Goal:  Decrease racial and ethnic health disparities.

Objectives:

• Create public will to decrease racial and ethnic health disparities in access and treatment.
• Improve the quality of systems that enhance patient-provider interactions in order to promote health equity.

Children’s Oral Health

Goal:  Improve the oral health of children covered by Medicaid.

Objectives:

• Increase utilization of preventive and treatment visits to the levels achieved by children insured in the private sector.
• Identify and promote models of care that improve oral health outcomes for children covered by Medicaid in our funded communities.

Please email info@cthealth.org with your questions or comments.