A Note from the

Executive Director

Dear friend,


I'd like to recognize and thank our growing community of generous collaborators, friends, and partners. I'm very grateful for:

  • a new prize-making collaboration with Newman's Own Foundation,
  • our generous Prize Committee made up of 49 experts from 14 states,
  • the 277 programs from 45 states, D.C., and Guam that shared their work with us by submitting applications to our Prizes for Innovation,
  • our dedicated Board of Directors,
  • and all of you who have contributed your time, energy, and brain power to help H2HC continue to move forward.


Our Fall Summit, Advancing Health Equity Through Innovation and Partnerships, is on Thursday, Nov. 6, in Boston and details with a registration link are below. I hope that you will be able to join us This year we will be awarding six H2HC Prizes for Innovation for systemic work focused on advancing health equity for young people across three categories:

  • policy,
  • Indigenous food justice,
  • and school food and nutrition education.


I look forward to sharing our exciting cohort of winners very soon and to collaborating with you as we grow.

Warmly,

Nicolene Hengen

Executive Director


Community Resources


New Toolkit to Help Health Care Providers Connect Families to WIC


A new FRAC toolkit, produced in partnership with Drs. Kofi Essel and Kimberly Montez, helps health care providers, medical professionals, and anyone who treats or engages with families learn about opportunities to connect patients and families to WIC.   

 
 

Lesson Learned from Guaranteed Income Pilots

in Massachusetts


A new report from Boston Indicators and Children's HealthWatch, The Dignity Dividend: Lessons Learned from Guaranteed Income Pilots in Massachusetts, synthesizes the successes and challenges of 24 recent guaranteed-income (GI) pilot programs in Massachusetts.

 


In the News


New MA Food Insecurity Survey

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), an H2HC Board member, released its fifth annual statewide survey on food insecurity, The Cost of Hunger in Massachusetts. 


It reports that food insecurity in Massachusetts impacts 1 in 3 households and contributes to an estimated $1.3 billion in annual Medicaid health care spending across the state.

In the News


Beyond the Exam Room: Impact Health Outcomes Through Civic Engagement | Grantmakers in Health (August 15, 2025)


How Libraries are Creating Communities Through Food | Civil Eats (August 27, 2025)


New Paperwork Requirements Will Cause Millions to Lose Their Health Coverage | The Commonwealth Fund (September 4, 2025)


The U.S. Town That Pays Every Pregnant Woman $1,500 | The Guardian (September 15, 2025)


Shutdown Halts Some Health Services | KFF Health News (October 1, 2025)


New Deadline Set for States to Implement SNAP Cuts | USDA Food and Nutrition Services (October 3, 2025)


 
 

About H2HC

H2HC supports innovative, systemic approaches to food and nutrition challenges that advance health equity, all through a focus on the social drivers of health.

H2HC Leadership Council

 
 

Contact us at info@h2hcollaboratory.org.

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