Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Milton (BID Milton) is offering community health grants in amounts ranging from $500 up to $2,000 to local service agencies, non-profit organizations, boards of health, coalitions and community groups to address specific public health needs outlined in the hospital’s 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment.

During the last eight years, BID Milton has distributed more than $50,000 in community health grants to 37 local organizations. Last year the hospital provided grants to five organizations, including Milton Public Schools; Tucker Elementary School, Milton; Quincy Community Action Program; Father Bill’s and Mainspring, Quincy and DOVE, Inc., Quincy. Applicants for the grants should submit proposals which use proven or promising practices that address at least one of the hospital’s community health priorities:

• Health Risk Factors – This includes health awareness, education, prevention and screening activities that can reduce health risks and improve the community’s overall health. Examples of prevention activities could include increasing access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity as well as reducing tobacco use;
• Physical/Chronic Disease Management and Prevention – There are a broad range of chronic and infectious diseases prevalent in BID Milton’s service area, including heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Examples of appropriate programs include improving chronic disease management, continuing chronic disease screenings or increasing provider capacity;
• Behavioral Health – The burden of mental illness and substance abuse is substantial, and hospitalization rates for these conditions are higher in many of the hospital’s service area towns/cities when compared to the rest of the state. Examples of program goals could include increasing awareness of behavioral health issues, reducing the burden of opioid use, increasing awareness of hoarding and increasing crisis management within the community;
• Healthy Aging – Older adults are much more likely to develop chronic illnesses and related disabilities. BID Milton has identified improving the quality of life for older adults as a community health priority. Examples of programs due funding consideration might include education on falls prevention, reducing the isolation of older adults as well as supporting older adults and caregivers to age in place.

Applications must be for programs in BID-Milton’s market area of Milton, Randolph, Quincy, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Canton, Braintree or Weymouth, and are due Friday, May 4 at 5 pm.

Click here to Download a grant application

For more information call Robert McCrystal, director of communications, at 617-313-1590.

About Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Milton

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Milton (BID Milton) is a member of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals. More than 4,700 physicians and 39,000 employees share in a mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.