Ottauquechee Health Foundation Inc

THE FOUNDATION STRIVES TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE IN NEED WHO LIVE IN THE TOWNS WE SERVE THROUGH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND SUPPORT OF WELLNESS INITIATIVES.

GRANTS AND FUNDING. THROUGH THEIR GOOD NEIGHBOR GRANTS, OTTAUQUECHEE HEALTH FOUNDATION (OHF) IS ABLE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY FOR THE HIGH COSTS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES. THE GOOD NEIGHBOR GRANTS SUPPORT NEEDS RANGING FROM MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE TO MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, HEARING AIDS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND OTHER HEALTH AND WELLNESS GAPS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO UTILIZES A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HOMECARE GRANTS TO CONNECT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WITH CAREGIVERS TO AID IN EVERYDAY TASKS. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPLIES SUPPORT TO AREA ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE COMMUNITIES. IN 2021, OHF APPROVED MORE THAN 212,000 IN TOTAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH ENABLED ACCESS TO ALMOST 305,000 IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES. IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO COVID-19 THE OHF MODIFIED ITS GRANTING POLICIES FOR THE 2020, 2021, AND 2022 FISCAL YEARS TO BETTER SERVE THOSE IN NEED, AND WILL CONSIDER GRANT REQUESTS FOR SERVICES NOT NORMALLY COVERED BY THE FOUNDATION.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. THE FOUNDATION HOSTS AND SUPPORTS COMMUNITY HEALTH FORUMS AND EVENTS TO ADDRESS CURRENT COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS. THE FOUNDATION BELIEVES THAT HEALTH EDUCATION KEEPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS INFORMED, AND IN TURN HEALTHIER, HAPPIER, AND BETTER ABLE TO NAVIGATE COMPLICATED HEALTH RELATED CIRCUMSTANCES. IN 2021, OHF OFFERED MULTIPLE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WERE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING TWO INSURANCE EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS THROUGH FILM SCREENINGS, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH MULTIPLE PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES.

WINDSOR CENTRAL HEALTH INITIATIVE & MINDFUL SELF. THE WINDSOR CENTRAL WELLNESS INITIATIVE (WCWI) IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF THE OTTAUQUECHEE HEALTH FOUNDATION (OHF) AND THE WINDSOR CENTRAL MODIFIED UNIFIED UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT (WCMUUSD) TO BRING TRAUMA-INFORMED, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL CENTERED WELLNESS PROGRAMMING TO THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, SCHOOL STAFF, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE WCWI SEEKS TO ADDRESS RISING LEVELS OF PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESS EXPERIENCED BY TODAYS YOUTH, DUE IN PART TO PERVASIVE DIGITAL MEDIA AND PRESSING SOCIOPOLITICAL ISSUES, INCLUDING GUN VIOLENCE, POLITICAL CONFLICT, CONCERNS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THE IMPACT OF THE CURRENT COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE MINDFUL SELF (SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING FOUNDATIONS) PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN SEVERAL OF OUR DISTRICTS SCHOOLS THREE YEARS AGO. THE PROGRAM REACHED MORE THAN 400 STUDENTS IN FIVE AREA SCHOOLS. STUDENT REPORTS REVEALED IMPROVED MINDFUL ATTENTION, COMPASSION, KINDNESS, AND CAPACITY TO LEARN. OVER THE NEXT 3-4 YEARS, THE WCWI WILL BUILD UPON THE SUCCESS OF THE MINDFUL SELF PROGRAM BY PROVIDING INTERVENTIONS THAT ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES OF TRAUMATIC STRESS.

COMMUNITY. OHF WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AREA HEALTH PROVIDERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE CARE COORDINATION AND SUPPORT. THE FOUNDATION STAFF SPENT 30% OF ITS TIME IN 2020 HELPING COMMUNITY MEMBERS GAIN ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE HEALTHY, BY CONNECTING THEM WITH COMMUNITY CARE COORDINATORS, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, CASE WORKERS, AND OTHER EXTERNAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND AID ORGANIZATIONS. OHF STAFF ALSO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AT LOCAL FOOD SHELVES.