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Strategic Community Investments

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HealthyBR is fighting food insecurity and social isolation in Baton Rouge with Geaux Get Healthy project

The Humana Foundation’s Broward Country, Florida, grant is improving food security for older adults

Objective

The Humana Foundation’s Strategic Community Investment Program seeks to advance health equity in eight of Humana Inc.’s Bold Goal communities by addressing social determinants of health. Social determinants of health are the economic and social conditions under which people are born, grow, live, work and age. As the World Health Organization recognizes, these circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels, and have an impact on people’s overall health and well-being.

Through partnerships and collaborations with local organizations and community members, The Humana Foundation seeks to create measurable results in some of the most common social determinants — postsecondary attainment and sustaining employment, social connectedness, financial asset security and food security. By holistically addressing these areas through system and community level approaches, it is our belief that we will be able to close the measurable gaps in health outcomes that communities face.

Approach

The Humana Foundation is making a greater impact by issuing “fewer, bigger” investments in the communities we serve. These investments have a longer-term focus of up to three years, recognizing that the change we seek requires deep commitment and partnership at all levels and sectors of society. We are working with local partners – at the community, regional and national level to achieve sustainable and equitable change.

All Humana Foundation Strategic Community Investment partners use the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Healthy Days survey as well as additional metrics and tracking tools that are relevant while community members engage and interact with the work of the beneficiaries of our work.

Strategic Community Investment Areas:

Post-secondary attainment and sustaining employment
Social connectedness
Financial asset security
Food security

“What types of organizations can apply for a grant?”

The Humana Foundation believes that positive, sustainable change requires partnership and collaboration. We accept applications from individual organizations and collaboration across sectors, including religious institutions, nonprofit organizations, government entities, academic institutions, grassroots organizations, and for-profit organizations and start-ups when collaborating with other qualified entities.

More FAQs

Communities and Investments

In 2019, The Humana Foundation invested $7.6 million with 12 organizations, up from $7.4 million invested with nine organizations in 2018. Investments with local organizations address food security, social connectedness, post-secondary attainment and sustaining employment, and financial asset security. These organizations are located in eight Humana Bold Goal communities, places where Humana is working to achieve a goal of helping people improve their health 20 percent by 2020 and beyond. These 12 investments range from $400,000 to $1,000,000 and include:

In 2019, The Humana Foundation invested
$7.6 million
with 12 organizations

Baton Rouge, LA

Healthy BR received investments in 2018 and 2019 to improve food security and social connectedness via the Geaux Get Healthy project. Funded by grants from both The Humana Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation , the project addresses food deserts by saturating areas with the highest rates of food insecurity and health disparities with numerous access points for purchasing fresh food at an affordable price. In 2019, HOPE Ministries received an additional investment as a key partner in the Geaux Get Healthy project, allowing for an expansion of The Way to Work workforce development program.

Broward County, FL

Broward Community & Family Health Centers (BCFHC) received an investment in 2019 to continue improving food security by working with health clinics to screen patients for food insecurity and diet-related disease, help people apply for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and help people access healthy foods via a produce prescription program. The Humana Foundation began partnering with and funding Broward County organizations in 2018, and the 2019 investment in BCFHC is an evolution and continuation of the Foundation’s work to address food security in Broward County.

Jacksonville, FL

The University of Florida received investments in 2018 and 2019 to promote social connectedness and food security among minority, underserved and low-income seniors, as well as financial asset security and post-secondary attainment and sustaining employment resources for their families in partnership with the Jacksonville Urban League .

InterFaith Health Clinic is piloting Truck2Table to improve food security in Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville, TN

InterFaith Health Clinic , in a collaborative partnership with Catapult 4D, received investments in 2018 and 2019 to address social determinants of health and health equity barriers. The Truck2Table pilot program is improving the health and quality of life of uninsured and underserved people by providing affordable access to healthy food, free nutrition education and access to social connectedness resources.

Family Scholar House and United Metro Way are addressing social determinants of health in Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville, KY

The Family Scholar House received investments in 2018 and 2019 for its HEROES program, expanding existing programs and reaching more individuals, families and senior citizens to assess and address barriers including social isolation, food insecurity and lack of post-secondary educational attainment. Metro United Way received investments in 2018 and 2019 to expand its pilot financial literacy program, improving financial independence and providing families and residents experiencing economic distress with financial literacy coaching and other social services.

Kingsley House and Growing Local Food Collaborative are addressing financial asset security, post-secondary attainment and sustaining employment, and food security in New Orleans.

New Orleans, LA

In 2019, The Humana Foundation extended our Strategic Community Investment Program to New Orleans, investing $1 million locally. Kingsley House received an investment to fund an employment program that helps lift families out of generational poverty. Growing Local Food Collaborative received an investment to address food security, as well as financial asset security and post-secondary attainment and sustaining employment. Partners in this initiative include, Liberty's Kitchen , New Orleans Food Policy Advisory Committee , Recirculating Farms Coalition , SPROUT NOLA , Top Box Foods Louisiana , and joined by Second Harvest Food Bank for special projects.

OATS and the San Antonio Food Bank are reducing social isolation and increasing food security in San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) received investments in 2018 and 2019 to address social connectedness. The Senior Planet San Antonio program reduces isolation and loneliness and increases social connections by engaging seniors through free access to internet-connected technology and training courses. The San Antonio Food Bank received investments in 2018 and 2019 to positively impact food security and social connectedness by creating a Healthy Options Program for the Elderly. The program assists seniors who screen positive for food security and social connectedness concerns with comprehensive services that stabilize their household and address prevalent health issues.

The Humana Foundation is addressing food security in Tampa

Tampa, FL

Feeding Tampa Bay received an investment in 2019 to continue work to transform affordable access to healthy food in partnership with the Community Health Centers of Pineallas and other social service providers via the Feeding Tampa Bay Food Pharmacy. The Humana Foundation began partnering with and funding Tampa Bay organizations in 2018, and the 2019 investment with Feeding Tampa Bay is an evolution and continuation of the Foundation’s work to address food security in Tampa Bay.

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