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The Kresge Foundation today announced two new grant award funds developed to directly support the work of community health organizations addressing critical needs for underserved populations.

The Health Clinic Opportunity Fund – targeted to free clinics, public health clinics, and those designated federally qualified health center look-alikes – is designed to support and strengthen their capacity to meet both the immediate and long-term health needs of constituents. The initial wave of proposals is due September 4, 2009, with awards being made in December 2009. A second wave of proposals is due March 1, 2010.

The foundation’s Safety-net Enhancement Initiative will seek to demonstrate how community health centers can address health disparities, enhance service delivery and care, and improve outcomes through collaboration and regional partnerships.

Eligibility, application requirements, and other details are available on the Health Program page on the Kresge Foundation Web site.

“While the economic impact of the recession has affected virtually every segment of society in the U.S. and worldwide, its devastation has been felt most dramatically by residents of lower-income and minority communities,” says Rip Rapson, president of The Kresge Foundation. “These new initiatives are two examples of how we are responding by directing resources where they can do the most good, most immediately.”

David D. Fukuzawa, Kresge program director and Health Program team leader, emphasized that community health centers will play an important role in health care reform by demonstrating how primary care can help reduce costs and provide access for the nation’s under- and uninsured population.

These two new initiatives join an existing Kresge effort – Safety-net Facility Improvement – which utilizes Kresge’s traditional challenge grant approach in supporting clinic and hospital capital improvements. Two other new Kresge health-related programs include:

Healthy Environments for children, which focuses on reducing environmental risks for vulnerable children; and Emerging and Promising Practices, which stimulates new knowledge and innovative linkages across sectors to improve health.

The Kresge Foundation is a $2.8 billion private, national foundation that seeks to influence the quality of life for future generations through its support of nonprofit organizations in six fields of interest: health, the environment, community development, arts and culture, education and human services. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, part of metropolitan Detroit, the foundation awarded 342 grants totaling $181 million in 2008.

For media inquiries, contact Cynthia Shaw, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 248-643-9630.

If you have questions, e-mail our Grants Inquiry Coordinator or call 248-643-9630.