FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kristy Lee 617-388-5555 (cell)
kristy.lee@umassmemorial.org
 

Worcester, MA - UMass Memorial Health (UMMH), the largest not-for-profit health care system in Central Massachusetts, is proud to award nearly $5M in grants to 18 local non-profit organizations working to improve health outcomes for communities across the Worcester region.

The North Pavilion – a construction project that will offer 72 new hospital beds on the UMass Memorial Medical Center campus – led to this significant investment through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Determination of Need program. These investments highlight UMMH's continued commitment to regional health equity through our Community Benefits Programs.

"UMass Memorial Health’s mission as a safety net institution goes beyond providing exceptional care to patients within our hospitals to also addressing the social factors that influence the wellbeing of Central Massachusetts residents,” said Dr. Eric Dickson, President & CEO of UMass Memorial Health. “These grants will provide 18 deserving organizations with the resources they need to increase access to essential health resources across the region.”

Applicants submitted proposals aligned with UMMH's priority areas of focus including healthcare, access, housing and mental health. Selected recipients will use these funds to improve community health services in vulnerable areas across the Worcester region. The recipients include:

Worcester RISE for Health: RISE aims to develop a new model of healthcare specifically geared towards newly arriving migrants who are unfamiliar with the United States (US) health system. As part of this goal, RISE will build a medical office to serve immigrant and refugee individuals. The physical structure, staffing and services will be informed by refugee and immigrant community input and designed to make it easier for newcomers to navigate the health system.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Worcester: Catholic Charities Worcester County's Citizenship classes address the health disparities faced by community members pursuing US citizenship, especially non-native English speakers and those new to American culture. The citizenship journey poses financial and stress-related challenges, creating barriers, particularly for those with limited economic means. The high application fees and intricate requirements compound these difficulties, raising health equity concerns. In addressing financial, informational, and emotional health aspects, these programs empower individuals to achieve US citizenship while fostering health equity within the community.

Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts (SEACMA): Through the SEACMA Community Care Navigation Program, community outreach and mobile direct and referral (D&R) services for immigrant and refugee individuals in Worcester will be expanded. This supports immigrants and refugees who are unable to receive services in SEACMA’s office including the elderly and homebound and those with challenges related to mental health disorders, disabilities, illness, mobility, transportation and more. SEACMA will partner with the Center for Health Impact to train community health workers to conduct outreach and provide in-home D&R services.

Center for Health Impact: The Center’s project improves health and public systems navigation in Worcester’s diverse communities, especially for persons experiencing harmful impacts of social drivers of health, by assuring access to trusted navigational experts across service systems.

Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester: The Coalition strives to close health disparities for highly impacted populations through prevention. With over 200 partners, it develops specialized resources to help people navigate the public health system effectively.

Regional Environmental Council (REC): The REC Community and Mobile Farmers Markets program will work collaboratively with the Worcester Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program and Worcester Community Action Council’s Resiliency Center to increase the use of existing federal nutrition programs in Worcester, particularly for families with children and recent arrivals including immigrants and refugees. This project will focus on successful enrollment and use of the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, the Healthy Incentives Program and the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons.

South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC): The Medical Respite Program Continuum of Care will enhance an existing Medical Respite program located at 237 Chandler Street in Worcester and operated in partnership between SMOC and UMass Memorial Medical Center. The continuum will support seven medical respite beds for individuals who meet eligibility criteria; each potential participant will receive an eligibility assessment that is equitable and easily accessible.

Worcester Refugee Assistance Project: The Project has been working with Afghan refugees since 2021. This program specifically assists Afghan/Syrian/Palestinian refugee women and girls who come from a society where gender roles have historically limited mobility and access to transportation. This grant will allow them to achieve independence, self-sufficiency, and a better quality of life, easing their transition into their new community and the workforce by helping them obtain their driver's license.

Worcester State Foundation: The Latino Education Institute's Community Health Education Program is dedicated to enhancing health equity and tackling racial disparities in the City of Worcester. This is accomplished through culturally sensitive, community-based health education, developed through a strong partnership with the Department of Public Health and Worcester Public Schools using a Community Health Worker service model.

Central Mass Housing Alliance (CMHA): The project provides temporary financial assistance along with stabilization services to break the cycle that often results in homelessness. CMHA aims to maintain its support for families by helping with rent payments before they reach a critical point. This assistance is targeted toward families whose income exceeds the eligibility for government programs but who still struggle with high rent costs.

Iglesia Cristiana de la Comunidad/ Christian Community Church: Zac's House offers comfortable living spaces featuring dorm-style rooms, each designed to provide a relaxed and private space for residents. The rooms are thoughtfully arranged to balance personal space and communal living, fostering a sense of camaraderie among residents. It offers a supportive environment with financial literacy, educational and vocational advising, and cooking classes for young men overcoming significant obstacles as refugees or asylum seekers.

Latin American Health Alliance (LAHA): The funding will be used to help Hector Reyes House and LAHA Supportive Housing Program (LSHP) set up a fire prevention and protection system. The LSHP offers safe transitional housing and essential case management services for Latino men who are experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder and mental health disorders. The LSHP aims to identify support needs for the residents and work together to find and access community resources that would aid in their recovery.

The New England Center for Family Connection (CFFC): Family Connects is an intensive 10-week program combining family therapy, trauma education, and sensory integration occupational therapy within an integrated cohort model. The program will serve up to 150 local families struggling with disruption and adversity.

Boys & Girls Club of Worcester: Club members are still affected by the pandemic. They were shaken by interrupted academics and enforced isolation. Many had to grow up quickly while caring for themselves and siblings. The Club’s approach helps them believe in themselves and their ability to perform in school and recover mental/emotional health. Teen members will be trained to serve as "near-peer" mentors. They will lead groups (under supervision) working on anger management, social skills, etc., and serve as mentors and role models to members ages 8–12.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Worcester County: Since 2021, CASA has implemented the "Shine the Light" program throughout Worcester County, ensuring that CASA volunteers have the education, training, and community support needed to effectively support children exposed to parental substance use/mental health challenges. CASA will implement additional capacity-building needs, ensuring as many as 150 youth have access to highly trained volunteer advocates and specialized clinical and/or therapeutic services to improve long-term mental health.

Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services (SYFS): SYFS provides a comprehensive range of trauma-informed, culturally competent services designed to eradicate stigma, remove barriers to mental health care, and assist clients in accessing critical resources. SYFS maintains a structured and integrated approach to addressing individuals' mental health needs.

Trustees of Clark University: Resilient Worcester (RW) is a partnership between Clark University and Worcester’s Governance Council on Children, Youth, and Families. Through a systems approach, RW will reduce youth violence, prevent the long-term negative impacts of trauma, and address inequitable exposure to violence facing communities of color in Worcester. RW involves building a cross-sector collaborative structure within the Governance Council to coordinate three downstream trauma responses that address different needs in Worcester but have yet to achieve their desired impact: Handle with Care, Youth Crisis Response Team, and the Hub.

YMCA of Central Massachusetts: The YMCA of Central Massachusetts will use the funds to integrate at least two, part-time mental health staff into its Central Community and Greendale Family branches' afterschool programs. The mental health specialists will provide youth, staff, and parents with tools and strategies that address the continued and pervasive anxiety and depression that plague youth, often manifesting in incidents of negative behavior that strain staff.

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About UMass Memorial Health

UMass Memorial Health is the largest not-for-profit health care system in Central Massachusetts with 17,000 employees and 2,100 physicians. Our comprehensive system includes UMass Memorial Medical Center, UMass Memorial Health – Harrington, UMass Memorial Health – HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, UMass Memorial Health – Marlborough Hospital, UMass Memorial Health – Community Healthlink, and UMass Memorial Medical Group. We are the clinical partner of UMass Chan Medical School. For more information, visit www.ummhealth.org.