Grant Partners

Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts (PHIWM) provides research and assessment, coalition-building and facilitation, and program and health policy development, with the goal of strengthening social needs, housing and health equity, specifically for low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. PHIWM will work with the region’s social and behavioral health service sectors to understand their needs and implement capacity-building strategies to respond to anticipated Accountable Care Organization patient referrals and clinical linkage programs.  Social service, housing, and behavioral health leaders seek PHIWM’s support in understanding how they can create partnerships that will enable social determinants of health to be addressed in health care settings.  

Ecu-Health Care will conduct outreach in partnership with local community organizations and institutions; provide direct-to-consumer outreach via phone or mailings to Berkshire Medical Center uninsured patients as identified through an automated referral system; partner with other area health and human service organizations to establish an online referral system; review with clients the contents of a member packet including information on what changes to an account need to be reported, staying healthy with your new insurance, eligibility and benefits, how to make a payment, and advanced premium tax credits; and expand digital media, billboards, public broadcast, and radio advertising.

Edward M. Kennedy will expand assistance on weekend hours; assist in educating about 13,500 MassHealth patients who will be impacted by changes related to the 1115 waiver and transition to the Accountable Care Organization model; verify the insurance status of current patients days in advance of upcoming appointments; work with insurers to identify members who are up for renewal and provide assistance; formalize an outreach and enrollment network to identify at-risk individuals and refer them to the Outreach/Enrollment team; and partner with community centers and places of worship. 

Health Care For All (HCFA) will work to protect and expand affordable, accessible health care within Massachusetts by advocating for the continuation and improvement of state and federal health and safety net policies. As a leader of the Oral Health Advocacy Task Force and the Affordable Care Today (ACT!!) Coalition, HCFA will educate policymakers about health care access issues and will engage in community organizing, coalition-building initiatives, and media outreach. Additionally, they will seek to identify under-resourced but effective mental health programs that may benefit from expansion.

Citizens' Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) is the leading statewide housing policy and research organization in Massachusetts, and manages the On Solid Ground (OSG) Coalition, which includes organizations in housing, health, education, employment, legal services, and faith-based communities advocating for increased housing and economic stability for families, thereby improving housing, education, income and health outcomes.  CHAPA will conduct outreach and education to affect policy and systemic change at the intersection of health and housing.