Grant Partners

To purchase blood pressure monitoring equipment, educational and marketing materials for the Lynn YMCA branch.

Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL) will represent the interests of individuals with disabilities to policymakers and health care delivery system leaders. BCIL will work to ensure the availability of funds for accessible medical equipment, the continuation of funding for One Care plans, and the stability of MassHealth’s partnership with community-based organizations. BCIL will partner with other organizations in representing the disability community to accountable care organizations. Additionally, BCIL will continue its involvement with the Disability Advocates Advancing our Healthcare Rights (DAAHR) Coalition, focusing on social determinants of health.

To redesign the organization’s website, making it smartphone-accessible and multi-lingual.

To implement a statewide outreach and marketing plan geared toward Massachusetts residents to increase website traffic and helpline calls.

To hire a marketing communications consultant to develop a branding strategy.

Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) will connect disability advocacy communities across the state and amplify the voices of these groups in conversations with state and federal policymakers. In so doing, DPC seeks to re-frame disability as a social rather than medical condition and to shift the focus within disability-related health care from payment to ethics. DPC will serve as a hub for cross-disability advocacy through community-based participatory action research, their co-leadership of DAAHR, and an expanded social media presence.

To hire a grantwriter. 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Massachusetts (NAMI Mass) will work to improve access to mental health services and to reduce stigma regarding mental health conditions. Priorities include restoring state funding and reimbursement for behavioral health services and improving commercial coverage of emergency services. Additionally, NAMI Mass will work on creating a statewide mental health training program for law enforcement. To achieve these goals, NAMI Mass will conduct policy analyses, organize local chapters and peer support program members, and participate in coalitions and stakeholder alliances.

Massachusetts Public Health Association will support the Alliance for Community Health Integration (ACHI) pilot a training curriculum for community representatives of Community Benefits Advisory Committees (CBACs) on the Attorney General’s Community Benefits Guidelines and the Department of Public Health’s Determination of Need/Community Health Initiative (DoN/CHI) regulations.

The Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH) will work to improve access to behavioral health services and health-related social services for individuals with behavioral health conditions. MAMH will analyze policies and evidence-based programs related to health, including supportive housing subsidies and criminal justice reform, and will disseminate their findings through reports and through their activities as a convener and coalition leader. MAMH will also work to expand their capacity for data collection, measurement, and reporting.

Massachusetts Advocates for Children will partner with Justice Resource Institute to implement a holistic, wrap-around service model to help reduce suspensions and expulsions by addressing the behavioral health needs of the children and youth in Boston through training at least 30 JRI social workers and staff, educating parents on the behavioral health and special needs rights of their children (provided in English and Spanish), and providing individualized legal assistance for 20-30 child clients with significant behavioral health challenges.

Medical Legal Partnership Boston will develop and deliver a series of Learning Community webinars as well as a large-scale event for health care providers and human service organizations.

To hire a grant writer.

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. 

To purchase computer monitors.