Newsroom

The Partnership for Better Health is a well-respected voice on timely health issues and actively involved in various initiatives and events throughout the community. Whether we are weighing in on a pressing policy issue, sharing recent developments in the field of health care or spreading the news about a promising public health strategy, we aim to keep the community informed and engaged.

Browse recent news items below to see what’s happening, and stay informed by signing up to receive future communications directly in your inbox.

Career Opportunity to Educate, Advocate, and Take Action to Improve Housing Access

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New Life Community is seeking a program manager for “Community Partners for Change”. The position is supported through funding from the Partnership for Better Health effective January 2023, as part of our Affordable Housing and Homelessness strategic initiative.

The Community Partners for Change is a public-private partnership to effect positive and sustainable change in the housing system to obtain equitable, affordable, accessible, and secure housing for all Cumberland County residents.

The core values are:

  • Collaboration
  • Community Engagement
  • Data-Driven Approaches
  • Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA)
  • Shared Leadership
  • Trust, Respect, And Accountability

In order to advance this mission for change, cross-sector partners in government, philanthropy, business and the nonprofit sector will work together to educate, advocate, and take action on access to housing.

New Life Community serves as the backbone organization for Community Partners for Change.  New Life Community is a Brethren in Christ Church in Carlisle and Mt. Holly Springs, PA.

Strong candidates with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. To apply, please email your cover letter, resume and three references to Carol Thornton ([email protected]). The position will be open until filled, with interviews beginning in January with New Life Community.

To view the full job description, click here.

New Grants to Advance Health Equity through Collaboration

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As a community foundation, the Partnership for Better Health strives to serve as a catalyst, advocate, and collaborator to establish health as a shared priority, toward ensuring that everyone has what they need for good health. Four grants of up to $15,000 each are available to community groups that forge strategic partnerships with new organizations and local residents to address the issues of access to affordable health care, affordable quality housing, food security, and/or transportation. Proposals should demonstrate a deep commitment to engaging and building upon the experiences and leadership capacities of local residents, who have lived experiences within the project’s selected focus area. Projects should go beyond the engagement of traditional stakeholders, to mobilize the vision and capacities of residents at the grassroots level, who have the greatest understanding of the current challenges and the most to gain from innovative new solutions. Proposals are due by February 2, 2023.

Please see the complete Request for Applications for additional details or visit our Grants page to apply!

2022 Champions for Better Health Awards

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The 2022 Champions for Better Health Awards were held on October 27 in downtown Carlisle. Over 70 community members, volunteers, business leaders, and philanthropists came together to celebrate seven honorees whose work plays a vital role in advancing the health and wellness of our region.

Congratulations to the following awardees. We thank you for your incredible work to advance the health of our community:

  • Professional of the Year
    Sonja Payne – Coordinator, Shippensburg Community Resource Coalition
    Jeanna Som – Executive Director, Summer Program for Youth (honorable mention)
  • Nonprofit of the Year
    Tomorrow’s Neighbors – Kurt Danysh, Founder & Executive Director
  • Philanthropist of the Year
    Jewel Cooper – Director of Business Development, LeTort Trust/Boyer & Ritter, LLC
    Greg Gunn – President/CEO, Gunn-Mowery LLC
  • Heather Swartz Volunteer of the Year
    Joan Jones – Founder, Maranatha Carlisle
    Patience Groomes – Program Director, Reins of Rhythm (honorable mention)

Our Volunteer of the Year Award is named in honor and memory of Heather Swartz, former Communications Director at the Partnership. Heather will forever be remembered as a kind human being whose life and legacy was truly dedicated to the service of others.

Learn more about the Champions for Better Health or enjoy the slideshow, below:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

See more photos and coverage of the event from The Sentinel:

New – Seeking Strategic Partner to Lead Housing Systems Change Initiative

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The Partnership for Better Health is seeking a strategic partner to staff and lead Cumberland County’s collaborative housing initiative, called Community Partners for Change.  The mission of this initiative is to effect positive and sustainable change in the housing system to obtain equitable, affordable, accessible, and secure housing for all Cumberland County residents.

The strategic partner must have a history with and/or a commitment to serving under-resourced individuals and families in Cumberland County.  Also, the strategic partner must demonstrate a strong understanding of housing issues, emerging best practices and trusted methods for bringing groups together to educate, advocate, and take action.

A two-year grant of up to $160,000 is available to support this work and proposals are due by September 16, 2022.  Please see complete RFP for additional details: Request for Proposals.

Calling All Health Champions! Open for Nominations

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Do you know someone who’s a champion in advancing the health of our community? The Partnership for Better Health’s 2022 Champions for Better Health Awards recognize distinguished community volunteers, health care providers, business leaders, philanthropists, and youth whose work plays a vital role in advancing the health and wellness of our region. Community members are invited to nominate local health champions whose work and service make our community a healthy place for everyone to live, learn, work and play.

To nominate an individual or organization, you can complete a nomination form at: https://forms.office.com/r/z7BaWWSjUT

Nominations are due by September 12, 2022.

 

Hiring: Director of Communications & Development

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The Partnership for Better Health is seeking a Director of Communications & Development to lead the foundation’s public relations, marketing and community fundraising. The director will assist the foundation with community outreach, media relations and our annual community fundraising campaign. Bringing a keen understanding of the relationship between communications and fundraising work, the director will serve as a thought leader, influencer and trusted expert on health communications and fundraising.

Strong candidates with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The Partnership for Better Health offers an attractive compensation and full benefits package, including competitive salary, paid-time-off, employee wellness, medical, dental and life insurances, and retirement benefits. At 32-hours a week, the position supports a healthy work/life balance. Qualified candidates with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to email a cover letter, resume and three references to Casandra Jewell Sweeney ([email protected]). The position will be open until filled, with interviews beginning to be scheduled after August 8.

To view the full job description and apply, click here- Director of Communications-Development 7-8-2022.

New – Open Request for Strategic Planning Consultant

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The Partnership for Better Health is seeking a seasoned consultant/team with demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning for nonprofit organizations, and a depth of expertise in the fields of community health and philanthropy. Experience with grassroots community engagement, consensus building among diverse stakeholders and development of aspirational and measurable strategic plans is required. We seek consultant(s) that can engage diverse constituencies, hear many voices and generate a shared vision for community transformation and measurable health improvements.

The Partnership for Better Health’s strategic planning process is projected to last three to five months, beginning in October 2022 and concluding in February 2023. Some aspects of the timeline may be flexible and based upon the consultant’s proposed approach.

The budget for this strategic plan is expected to range between $10,000 and $15,000. Proposals from interested consultants are due by August 2, 2022. Please see complete RFP for additional details: Request for Strategic Planning Consultant

New “Spark of Change” Grants

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Through the leadership of our inaugural Director of Health Equity, Dr. Marcellus C. Taylor, the Partnership for Better Health is developing a full complement of health equity strategies and grants. Our introductory health equity grant is called Spark of Change. Spark of Change grants are mini grants that are intentionally focused on addressing health equity challenges, finding solutions, and amplifying voices at the neighborhood level. Neighborhoods have a shared history and collective community characteristics that set them apart. Applicants for Spark of Change grants must narratively demonstrate how their project will impact a specific community in our service area. We anticipate average grant awards of $5,000. Applications are due March 3, 2022.  To learn more about this funding opportunity and to apply, follow this link to view the complete Request for Applications _ Spark of Change _Feb 2022.

New Grants to Address Youth Mental Health

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The U.S. Surgeon General has released an advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health. It highlights youth mental health as an urgent public health issue that has grown worse during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To support youth mental health needs in our local schools and communities, the Partnership for Better Health is inviting school districts and community organizations to apply for funding in support of comprehensive school mental health systems.  We anticipate average grant awards of $50,000. Applications are due February 28, 2022.  To learn more about this funding opportunity and to apply, follow this link to our complete Request for Applications Youth Mental Health Dec 2021.

Physical, Mental and Emotional Health Benefits of Being in the Outdoors

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Our Partners at the PA Parks & Forests Foundation have created videos regarding the health benefits of outdoor recreation.

Check them out here.