Franciscan Health recently announced $450,000 in funding for community health improvement through its Social Impact Partnership Program (SIPP).
Fifty-seven non-profits located throughout Franciscan Health’s Indiana service regions and south suburban Chicago were selected from applications to receive funding of up to $9,750 per organization.
Partners in the Hammond/Munster/Dyer area are Boys & Girls Club of Greater Northwest Indiana, Girls on The Run of Northwest Indiana, Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana, Hope Christian Church, Housing Opportunities, Indiana Parenting Institute Inc. (IPI), Indiana Women in Need (IWIN) Foundation, Mental Health of America of Lake County Inc., St. Michael’s Wheelchair Ramp Ministry, The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, The Jennifer S. Fallick Cancer Support Center, Top 20, Inc. and Women’s Care Center.
Partners in the Michigan City area are Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Gary, Inc.; Citizens Concerned for the Homeless, Inc.; Dunebrook, Inc.; Healthy Communities of LaPorte County; Open Door Community Alliance, Inc.; Stepping Stone Shelter for Women, Inc. and The Salvation Army.
Partners in the Crown Point area are Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Gary, Inc.; Hilltop Neighborhood House; Housing Opportunities; The Caring Place; The Community Help Network and Tradewinds Services, Inc.
“Our community partners are such an asset to the health and wellbeing of their communities,” said Community Health Improvement Administrative Director Kate Hill-Johnson. “This program honors that and provides additional support that allows them to build capacity and assist even more individuals.”
SIPP is a community health enrichment program sponsored by Franciscan Health, which establishes and builds upon partnerships with non-profit health and human service agencies that provide services in at-risk communities served by the health system. The goal is to foster long-term relationships with community providers to better address significant health issues among vulnerable populations.
A committee comprised of local Franciscan healthcare leadership selected the fund recipients and amounts. The recipient organizations received funding based on program applications demonstrating their ability to address priority health needs and health equity based on Franciscan’s Community Health Needs Assessment process. Identified priority health issues include physical activity and nutrition (including food insecurity); mental wellness; healthy relationships (including pregnancy, parenting and recovery) and housing support.
Recipient organizations will collaborate with Franciscan’s Community Health Improvement team to ensure program effectiveness that meet the partner organization’s stated goals. They must participate in program orientation and will submit progress reports at six-month and one-year intervals. Participation in the reporting process is required for consideration of any future funding or assistance.
Supporting healthier communities
“We are grateful that, through SIPP, we are a part of a network of providers that is focused on creating healthier families in our most vulnerable communities,” Jill Schlueter-Kim, executive director of Girls on the Run, said, “The financial support means that we are able to eliminate barriers to participation and include all girls in our programming. At Girls on the Run, our mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident through a research-based curriculum that creatively integrates running.”
Pamela Henderson, Dunebrook’s grants and communications director, said, “Franciscan’s SIPP is not just an investment in Dunebrook, it is an investment in our community’s families.”
“Much of what we learn in life - how to communicate with one another, how to resolve conflicts peaceably, how to show love, respect and kindness to others, begins at home,” Henderson said. “… No parent has all the answers but learning from the real-world experiences of other parents helps to create a home where children can thrive, be safe and reach their potential. Franciscan SIPP helps us at Dunebrook bring the philosophy of nurturing parenting to parents to build stronger families, and our future depends upon it. After all, today’s children will be tomorrow’s parents.”
Charlie Williams, assistant director of Women’s Care Center Foundation, said, “Women's Care Center is thrilled and honored to continue their ongoing partnership with Franciscan Health.”
“Their support enables us to love and serve every sixth child born in Lake County,” Williams said. “We are very grateful for all the work they do with countless organizations in the area.”
Bonnie Meyer, president of Community Help Network, said the funding is a blessing.
“This money will help us serve almost 800 food insecure students in South Lake County,” Meyer said. “We are packing 562 Buddy Bags each week and providing monthly $20 grocery cards to the families of 218 middle schoolers. We are serving between 35 and 40 families per month with our Household Pantry. The SIPP grant helps keep these programs going and growing and we are grateful to Franciscan Alliance for including the Community Help Network.”
Franciscan Health will announce the benchmark dates for 2023 SIPP applications, review and awards early next year.
