June 2022
As part of the Community-Centered Health initiative, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation supports the development of a regular news and resource roundup. If you do not want to receive this newsletter, you can change your subscription preferences by following the link at the end of this message.
Tools, Reports, and Resources
EMERGING LESSONS FROM CLINICAL-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN NORTH CAROLINA - Report
Nearly a decade ago, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation launched Community-Centered Health to increase the capacity of community-based organizations and health care entities to act on the root causes of health and health inequities. Community-Centered Health has helped the Foundation focus more explicitly on equity, understand the value of power shifts, elevate the perspectives of residents and community-organizations, and become a more thoughtful, community-centric investor in supporting health equity. More importantly, this work has had a significant impact in the communities in which it is operating, leading to successful stakeholder collaborations, policy and system changes, resident leadership, and a greater understanding of the factors within communities that impact the health of residents. A new report emerging out of a recent evaluation of the program provides insights for those interested or involved in multisector, community-based health interventions. Learn more.
IN PRAXIS SEASON 3: COMMUNITY-DRIVEN STRATEGIES FOR FOOD JUSTICE - Podcast
In this episode of In Praxis, Donne Gonzalez and Emily Arasim from New Mexico Acequia Association (NMAA) join the podcast. Donne is the Farm Trainer/Farm Manager and Emily serves as the Youth Education Coordinator. Both Donne and Emily are deeply committed to serving as caretakers and passing on knowledge about intergenerational farming and the larger systems impacting people living in the area. They discuss the importance of returning our hands and hearts to the land starting with the land in our backyards. The cascading consequences builds and heals communities. Learn more.
FOOD IS MEDICINE IN NORTH CAROLINA: HEALTHY FOOD PRESCRIPTIONS, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE – Report
There is a rise in value-based care, with increased emphasis on patient outcomes and the factors that impact those outcomes - one of the most significant being access to healthy food. North Carolina is one of the top agricultural states in our country, yet nourishing food is not universally accessible. Healthy Food Prescription programs are making healthy food more accessible through partnerships between health care providers and community-based organizations. There are successful Healthy Food Prescription partnerships taking place right now in communities across North Carolina. In a new report, Food is Medicine in North Carolina, Healthy Food Prescriptions Now, and in the Future, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina brings some of those efforts to the forefront and outlines the barriers and opportunities to their further developmentLearn more.
Upcoming Events
VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE HEALING PROJECT: HEALTH WORKERS EXPLORING THE DIGITAL ARCHIVE
June 22, 2022
Virtual
The Healing Project explores the daily realities of violence, incarceration, detention, and policing in communities across the United States and highlights healing and care strategies that emerge from these same communities through its digital archive, music album, and exhibition. Guest speakers from the Healing Project and partners will discuss what the art, stories, and realities of incarcerated people in the United States mean for health professionals’ work to advance health equity in the context of historical and contemporary social justice movements. Learn more.
COMMUNITIES JOINED IN ACTION (CJA) NATIONAL CONFERENCE
September 19-20, 2022
New Orleans, Louisiana
The CJA National Conference annually hosts more than 200 participants from across the country, including: community networks/coalitions, community-based organizations, hospital/health systems, public health, regional and local health collaboratives, safety-net organizations, health plans, community development corporations, city and county government, universities, philanthropy, housing, food systems and community health advocates. CJA is on the ground in more than 1,000 communities across the country and has a track record of working toward success in large cities and small rural communities. After a two-year hiatus, the conference will be held in person. With a theme of "Bridging Communities to Achieve Equity for All," the 2022 National Conference will cover topics such as workforce, innovative initiatives, financing and sustainability, and partnering and community engagement. Learn more.
7TH ANNUAL NATIONAL SUMMIT ON THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
October 4-6, 2022
Minneapolis, MN
The Root Cause Coalition is accepting request for proposals for the 7th Annual National Summit on the Social Determinants of Health, to be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With this year's theme, Achieving Health Equity: What Are You Prepared To Do?, they are excited to welcome community and health care leaders from across the nation to discuss strategies and best practices in achieving health equity. Learn more.
AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION 2022 ANNUAL MEETING & EXPO
November 6-9, 2022
Boston, MA or Virtual
The theme for the American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting is “150 Years of Creating the Healthiest Nation: Leading the Path Toward Equity.” APHA's Annual Meeting and Expo provides high-quality, science-based education, engaging networking opportunities, and cutting-edge resources to thousands of public health professionals from across the nation. The APHA Annual Meeting is scheduled to be an in-person event in Boston or virtual November 6-9, 2022. Learn more.
Featured Initiative
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES NC
In the May 2022 Roundup, readers were introduced to the Healthy Communities NC Dashboard. This powerful free tool brings together insights from dozens of national, state, and local data sources on the 21 social determinants of health selected by NCIOM and NCDHHS’s Healthy NC 2030 task force. Additionally, they are integrating a user interface for the community data platform into the dashboard. Now, users will be able to access the full data library powering all of the tools – over 1500 metrics related to economics, education, demographics, transportation, housing, justice, the environment, social support, and health. A series of virtual workshops are being hosted to assist users in accessing data and insights from the tools. Registration is free and open to the public. Though individuals are welcome to sign up for any slot, please note that each session will focus on a specific region. Learn more.
Funding & Leveraging Opportunities
FOOD SECURITY EQUITY IMPACT FUND
Deadline: June 7, 2022
The Food Security Equity Impact Fund was established to drive investments to communities of color known to be disproportionately impacted by food insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic. It also honors Feeding America's commitment to advance equity and aims to create and deepen community partnerships and center people with lived experiences of hunger in creating a more equitable food system. Proposals may request funding for Planning Grants (initial funding up to $250K) or Implementation Grants (initial funding up to $500K). At least 85% of requested funding (actual dollars) must be allocated to the partnering community-based organization. Grant applications are due June 7, 2022. Learn more.
BUILD HEALTH CHALLENGE: FOURTH COHORT
Deadline: June 30, 2022
The BUILD Health Challenge® (BUILD) invites communities with innovative ideas to address health disparities caused by systemic or social inequities to apply for its new fourth cohort (4.0). As a BUILD community, your team will be part of a special cohort leading the way to the creation of a new norm in the U.S. - one that advances health equity and racial justice by centering multi-sector and community-driven partnerships. Learn more.
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 For feedback or questions about this communication, contact Brian Edmonds at brian.edmonds@bcbsncfoundation.org. To unsubscribe, see the link below.


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