Houston Health Foundation

Advancing Health equity - in fy 2023, the Houston Health Foundation began serving as an intermediary to implement elements of the Houston Health department's cdc grant designed to address disparities in access to covid 19 resources, information and improved outcomes within vulnerable Houston communities. The funding was designed to mitigate covid-19 Health disparities and advance Health equity in racial and ethnic minority groups. In order to reach populations at higher risk, disproportionately affected, and underserved, hhf engaged over 30 community based partners to implement a holistic approach, utlizing strategies to address covid-19 inequities, increase outreach, Health education, testing and vaccinations, access to care. For more information, see sch. O

See to succeed (sts) is an evidence-based public Health program dedicated to illuminating a path for underserved students to realize their full potential by providing access to diagnostic eye care and high-quality corrective eyewear at no cost to the families. See to succeed improves vision and vision-related Health, education, and social factors by providing free vision exams and corrective eyewear to school children 6 - 18 years old. Students are also referred for other follow-up services that may be identified as needed during their exam. During the current year, sts reached a remarkable milestone of serving over 100,000 students since the program's inception. For more information see sch. O

My brother's keeper (mbk) is part of a national movement to improve outcomes and reduce opportunity gaps for boys and young men of color. Through the freeport lng rise scholarship program and by working with partner mentoring organizations such as the urban scholars institute, 8 million stories and 100 black men, over 20 high school seniors were awarded new scholarships to attend two and four-year colleges in Texas and other states. Recognizing that tuition alone is often not enough to address all the challenges faced by opportunity youth, mbk Houston further developed a college support and persistence program called road to success, to add meaningful mentoring opportunities with professionals of color for freshman scholarship awardees. For more information see sch. O

Basics Houston (bh) the basics is a nationally recognized initiative that empowers families to care for and cultivate healthy beginnings for their children by providing resources for healthy childhood brain development. The 25 in 25 by 2025 initiative helps to raise kindergarten readiness by 25 percent in at least one geographic area of at least 25 cities, towns, and counties by 2025. As a basics learning network affiliate, basics Houston issued this challenge to our home community by offering leadership and mentorship. In fy 2023, hhf began implementation of the brainy clinics framework of training and services to embed the early childhood brain development curriculum of the Houston basics within community-based primary care providers with individual clinic customizations to be developed. Engaged federally qualified Health centers include hope clinic, vecino Health, and ibn sina Health center. Basics Houston also formed a partnership with kid's meals inc, which provides daily meals to over 20,000 children, 0-3 years of age in some of Houston's most vulnerable communities. Hope ambassador food delivery drivers distributed important, easily assimilated information about early brain development to 1500 family parents and caregivers. In addition, parents participated in fun shops in partnership with the childrens museum to provide-hands on experiential opportunities for parents to learn and practice the basics principles in person. Hhf also works with several local agencies and community coalitions. These initiatives address the physical and emotional needs of the most vulnerable people in the greater Houston area. Some of these local area agencies are: o area agency on aging - serves 65,000 senior citizens in the greater Houston area connecting them to vital resources and services for healthy aging. O hire Houston youth - hire Houston youth serves as the facilitator to connect youth, ages 16-24, to seven- weeks paid summer jobs and internships at the city of Houston, public, private, and philanthropic sectors. O nurse family partnership - this is an evidence-based Health program with over 40 years of evidence showing significant improvements in the Health and lives of first-time moms and their children living in poverty. Through this program specially trained nurses regularly visit young, first-time moms-to-be, starting early in the pregnancy, continuing through the child's second birthday. The program serves pregnant mothers from the sunnyside and acres homes neighborhoods and within harris county. O project saving smiles - provide free dental screenings, dental sealants, fluoride varnish, and oral Health education to at-risk second graders. Hhf also provides fiscal management services for the following programs: o anti-human trafficking (aht) - provides education to healthcare providers, treatment to victims and survivors, and research to inform clinical care and public policy. O Houston recovery initiative (hri) - hhf supports the work of the Houston recovery initiative, by serving as a fiscal agent for multiple funding sources. The Houston recovery initiative is a community-based consortium of over 50 recovery related organizations, all working to improve access to resources and outcomes for those overcoming addiction.