Posted on February 22, 2011

Kresge Foundation Awards $6 Million to Safety-Net Initiative Recipients

The Kresge Foundation in Troy, Michigan, has announced grants totaling $6 million to eight public-health agencies and community-based nonprofit organizations to develop demonstration projects that integrate community health and prevention with primary care for vulnerable populations.

Part of the foundation's Health Program, the four-year Safety-Net Enhancement Initiative is divided into two phases. In the first, each grantee received $75,000 for program planning and design. In the second, grantees will receive an additional $750,000 to continue work on their demonstration projects over the next three years. During that time, the projects will be evaluated for their effectiveness in reducing health disparities.

Launched in 2009, the initiative aims to improve health outcomes for low-income individuals by providing community health centers and anchor institutions from diverse geographies and sectors with the resources to collaborate on innovative approaches to reducing health disparities.

"We are pleased with both the diversity of focus and geographic representation of these demonstration projects," said David D. Fukuzawa, Kresge's health program director. "It is hoped that these innovative approaches will positively impact the future direction of how community health centers improve the health of underserved populations."

For a complete list of grantees, visit the Kresge Web site.