HARTFORD Feb. 15, 2011 — The Connecticut Health Foundation’s (CT Health) Health Leadership Fellows Program serves as a gateway for leaders interested in making a difference in the disparate health outcomes of the state’s most vulnerable, unserved and underserved populations. The program aims to incubate and launch leaders who demonstrate a long-term commitment to creating public will to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities. CT Health’s leadership program was established in 2005 after the foundation observed that too few leaders of color were present around tables at which key decisions were being made that affected them and their families.
The program will focus specifically on building leadership skills necessary for creating public will and systems change for health equity. Participants will hone skills such as: understanding and implementing health systems change solutions; developing strategic messaging and communications; and organizing and working in multidisciplinary teams. The seventh class of Fellows will consist of Connecticut residents who represent various professional and educational backgrounds: social workers, physicians, advocates, journalists, community leaders, researchers, administrators, lawyers, educators and epidemiologists.
“CT Health is committed to fostering a diverse network that will work together as colleagues to share and reinforce information, resources, and opportunities to act over the years to come,” says Patricia Baker, President & CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation.
Twenty Fellows, who will be selected through a competitive process, must make a ten-month commitment (September 2011 to June 20120) to attend two weekend retreats, monthly seminars and a leadership project at no cost to them. Eligibility and qualifications include: leadership experience to build upon as demonstrated by civic engagement, and existing opportunities to influence and organize people to affect change. The program’s online application deadline is May 1, 2011.
IMPORTANT DATES:
May 1, 2011 Deadline for Applications
May – June Applicant Interviews
Mid-July 2011 2012 Selection and Notification
Sept. 14, 2011 Orientation /Reception
Oct. 21-23, 2011 Fall Weekend Retreat
April 13-15, 2012 Spring Weekend Retreat
The application is available online at www.cthealth.org/leadership. For additional information about the program, contact Nancy Nolan, grants manager at nancy@cthealth.org or 860.724.1580.
For additional information about the foundation, visit cthealth.org/fellows or contact Maryland Grier, senior communications officer, at 860.724.1580, ext. 21 or at maryland@cthealth.org; or Monette Goodrich, vice president of communications & public affairs, at ext. 13 or at monette@cthealth.org.
About the Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) — www.cthealth.org: the state’s largest independent, nonprofit grant-making foundation dedicated to improving the health of the people of Connecticut through systemic change, program innovation and health policy analysis. Since it was established in July 1999, CT Health has awarded 556 grants totaling $43.7 million in three priority areas children’s mental health, reducing racial and ethnic health disparities, and oral health.