proposals to address health inequity – Sep 16

Posted by Cigna Foundation on August 30, 2022

Cigna Foundation invites proposals to address health inequity

Established in 1962, the Cigna Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Cigna Corporation. It supports organizations sharing its commitment to enhancing the health of individuals and families and the well-being of their communities, with a special focus on those communities where Cigna employees live and work.

To that end, the foundation invites applications for its Health and Well-Being grants program. Grants of between $50,000 and $100,000 per year for up to three years will be awarded to nonprofits addressing the root causes of health inequity and supporting under-resourced and systemically disadvantaged communities with poor social determinants of health. Given recent incidents here in the U.S. and around the world, the persistence of COVID-19, and the economic climate, this grant cycle will focus on funding programs that improve and ensure good mental health.

Despite steady improvement in overall health outcomes over the past decade, many under-resourced communities continue to experience substantial health disparities, including increased access to health care; increased access to primary care; and increased health literacy, the degree to which an individual can obtain, communicate, process, and understand basic mental and behavioral health information and services to make appropriate health decisions and follow directions for treatment.

The foundation recognizes that this is a broad topic; therefore, grants should address at least one, if not more than one, of the following programmatic areas, specifically in ethnic minority and underserved populations: suitable care that provides access to mental health services and addresses depression, stress, anxiety, and promotes resiliency and mental well-being; programs addressing the shortage of mental health care professionals; and cultural competency and awareness training for healthcare providers that addresses the stigma associated with seeking mental health care.

Funding requests must be aligned with the Community Health Implementation Plan (CHIP) for the applicant community, which accompanies the local Community Needs Assessment (CNA) or Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). To find the appropriate community plan, prospective applicants may visit their local hospital system’s or health department’s website.

To be eligible, applicants must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Cigna Foundation website.

Deadline: September 16, 2022 5:00 p.m. ET