The Connecticut Health Foundation has awarded $300,000 in first-quarter grants to seven organizations working to advance health equity across the state. A $50,000 grant to Saint Francis Hospital will support an evaluation of its “Food as Medicine” program, which integrates community health workers (CHWs) into care teams to support patients with uncontrolled hypertension.
“We know how valuable community health workers are in improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities,” said Tiffany Donelson, president and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation. “This evaluation will help to show the impact of having community health workers be fully integrated into a primary care team that addresses patients’ needs in a holistic way. We hope the findings will help other organizations better understand how to incorporate community health workers into their care teams for improved health outcomes.”
The program targets predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods in Hartford where access to nutritious food and preventive care remains limited. CHWs will work alongside dieticians and pharmacists to provide nutrition education, behavioral support, and chronic disease coaching, particularly focused on blood pressure monitoring and self-management.
“At Trinity Health of New England, we are redefining the role of community health workers to meet the evolving needs of our patients and communities,” said Carolyn Alessi, regional director of community health and well being and the Curtis D. Robinson Center for Health Equity at Trinity Health of New England, the parent company of Saint Francis Hospital. “By expanding their focus beyond social needs screenings to include chronic disease management and care coordination, we’re not only enhancing the value they bring to the health care team, but also advancing our commitment to whole-person care. This evaluation is a critical step in demonstrating the impact CHWs can have as trusted, high-value members of our clinical care teams.”
The evaluation, funded by the foundation, will assess how CHWs improve health outcomes and reduce care costs—key goals in addressing systemic disparities.
Six additional grants support related efforts:
-Center for Children’s Advocacy will advocate for improved behavioral health access for low-income children of color.
-Health Information Alliance (Connie) will enhance statewide race and ethnicity data collection.
-Black and Brown United in Action, Connecticut Oral Health Initiative, Hispanic Health Council, and PowerUp CT will advance grassroots initiatives addressing access, equity, and systemic barriers.
The grants reflect the foundation’s ongoing commitment to advancing racial and ethnic health equity through targeted community investments.
