In March of 2020, the World Health Organization announced a global pandemic and the first cases of novel coronavirus in Pennsylvania quickly began to multiply. Recognizing the unprecedented health emergency facing our communities, the Partnership for Better Health is making Rapid Response Emergency Grants available to local nonprofit organizations, to assist them in responding to the threat of COVID-19. These grants are expected to range between $2,000 and $25,000 and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through May 29, 2020. Funding priorities for Emergency Grants include: meeting basic health and human needs, protecting emergency responders, supporting homeless residents, and financially assisting the newly unemployed. To learn more about this funding opportunity and to apply, follow this link to review our complete Request for Proposals.
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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.
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Systems Change Summit 2019
Held on August 7, this Summit was an opportunity for community partners to advance their understanding of how systemic decisions, conditions and policies impact our health and overall quality of life. Participants learned about the power of coalitions and ways that collective work can strengthen communities and bring about positive changes for vulnerable populations.
The public forum featured the progress of three local coalitions that are working in the areas of housing, community organizing and local food system improvements. Participants received an overview of systems change theory and collective impact, plus learned the strategies being used by these three coalitions to initiate desired changes.
The Summit was facilitated by Jason Alexander, Principal and Co-Founder of Capacity for Change, LLC.
Training materials are available below.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS — Policy Advocacy
Project Focus
The purpose of this RFP is to engage a government/public relations firm/professional consultant to assist the Partnership for Better Health and our Community Policy and Engagement Committee in developing a systematic approach to build the policy advocacy capacity of partner organizations in our geographic region:
- Develop a systematic process for identifying and promoting reliable sources for calls to action that align with the Partnership’s mission and priorities.
- Develop strategies that align with our capacity to advance efforts for at least each priority focus area, linking to Social Determinants of Health and/or Health Equity.
- Develop suggested ways to include funding for advocacy activities of local and potentially state nonprofit partners into our grantmaking offerings
Our anticipated outcomes are as follows:
- The Partnership has a clear approach and messaging strategy for ongoing advocacy work through grantmaking and direct advocacy;
- Improved relationships with elected officials and/or administrative leaders; and
- Increased advocacy capacity among grantees (measure to be determined based upon grantmaking strategy to be determined).
We seek a consultant that brings deep expertise in guiding the advocacy work of nonprofit organizations and familiarity with 501(c)(3) limitations in lobbying. Consultants with significant experience working on health-related advocacy efforts in Pennsylvania, and specifically with communications to state and local elected officials, are encouraged to apply. Proposals are due on September 16, 2019, to the Partnership for Better Health. A scope of work, proposal requirements, project timeline and application instructions are shared below:
— REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS — Men’s Recovery House in Carlisle Supporting Recovery from Addiction in South Central PA
Due: August 16, 2019 | Up to $100,000 Grant
An estimated twelve Pennsylvanians die each day as the result of drug-related deaths. Men comprise 70 percent of these deaths in our state, with younger men between the ages of 25 and 34 experiencing the highest number of fatalities. Since our founding in 2001, the Partnership for Better Health has been committed to addressing addiction throughout our service region. Together, with many others we are developing strategies to curb the epidemic by increasing access to prevention and treatment services. We are pleased to announce a new funding opportunity of up to $100,000 to support the development of a Men’s Recovery House in Carlisle that supports individuals in their journey towards a healthy, sober life. Organizations with significant experience providing treatment and recovery services in Pennsylvania are encouraged to apply. To receive a copy of our detailed Request for Proposals, click below. Applications are due August 16, 2019.
Leadership Cumberland Scholarship Available
The Partnership for Better Health is pleased to offer a scholarship for the 2019-20 Leadership Cumberland program. The award will go to a health-related professional working at or volunteering for a nonprofit organization that serves the foundation’s region. To apply, click here. Applications are due by June 28. To learn more, contact Gail Witwer at: 960-9009 x 8 or [email protected].
Emergency Shelter Training
The goal of the training is to orient shelter providers and critical community leaders to the role of shelter in an effective crisis response system and emphasizes quickly connecting people who experience homelessness to housing assistance and other services to enable them to achieve and maintain permanent housing. This training will help emergency shelters lower barriers, build capacity to be more housing-focused, and rapidly exit clients to permanent housing. The workshop covers factors for effective program design and implementation and planning for next steps.
Register Here.
Housing Systems Change Training Series
The Center for Capacity Building (the Center) will provide three trainings between September 2018 and March 2019 for the Housing Systems Change Initiative: an Emergency Shelter Training, a Rapid Re-Housing Training, and a Diversion Training. The Alliance’s training brings together research and best practices on emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, and diversion with innovative and emerging strategies from successful program models around the country.
Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) Training (Full Day)
Thursday, October 25, 2018. Bongiorno Conference Center
The goal of the training is to help participants understand the critical role RRH plays in ending homelessness. Participants gain an understanding of the three core components of rapid re-housing – housing identification, financial assistance, and case management and services – as well as practical strategies for implementation and practice. Facilitators help participants tackle tough questions such as recruiting landlords in a challenging housing market and identifying the “right” assistance.
Click HERE to register.
Emergency Shelter Training (Full Day)
Thursday, November 29, 2018. Comfort Suites Downtown Carlisle
The goal of the training is to orient shelter providers and critical community leaders to the role of shelter in an effective crisis response system and emphasizes quickly connecting people who experience homelessness to housing assistance and other services to enable them to achieve and maintain permanent housing. This training will help emergency shelters lower barriers, build capacity to be more housing-focused, and rapidly exit clients to permanent housing. The workshop covers factors for effective program design and implementation and planning for next steps.
Registration details will be announced at a later date.
Diversion Training (Half Day)
Wednesday, January 30, 2019. Comfort Suites Downtown Carlisle
The goal of the training is to help participants understand the role diversion plays in an effective crisis response system. Participants gain an understand of the critical elements of implementing effective diversion practice at the front door of the homeless system as well an understanding of key elements of diversion.
Registration details will be announced at a later date.
All trainings include a mix of presentation, interactive activities, and discussion.
Contact Carol Thornton for more information, 717-960-9009 x 7.
Community Training: Systems Change Summit
The Systems Change Summit 2018 was an opportunity for community leaders of collaborative initiatives to come together for a day of learning, conversation and planning to advance systems change efforts. This Summit was intentionally designed to help cross-sector partners advance their own initiatives through structured planning activities that will result in a clearer sense of the five “P’s” of systems change: Purpose, Principles, Priorities, People and Projects. Participants learned about design thinking and collective impact concepts and tools to help navigate complex challenges and accelerate meaningful and lasting systemic change.
Slides of those presentations are available below.
Capacity for Change Slide Deck – PBH Systems Change Summit 2018
Leadership Cumberland Scholarship Available
The Partnership for Better Health is pleased to offer a scholarship for the 2018-19 Leadership Cumberland program. The award will go to a health-related professional working at or volunteering for a nonprofit organization that serves the foundation’s region.
To apply, click here Leadership Cumberland Scholarship App 2018-2019 with hyperlink. Applications are due by June 29. To learn more, contact Gail Witwer at: 960-9009 x 8 or [email protected].
Community Training: Responding to Trauma & Building Resiliency
The foundation hosted a community training titled Responding to Trauma & Building Resiliency on Monday April 30, and Tuesday May 1.
The training focused on The Community Resilience Model © (CRM) that was designed by Elaine Miller Karas to support the creation of trauma informed and resiliency-focused communities, by building common understanding of the impact of trauma and chronic stress on the nervous system. It aims to build resilience in individuals and communities by focusing on how to build skills of well-being. Participants learned six accessible, concrete skills that can be taught to others or used by individuals.
Slides of those presentations are available below.
PBH-4-30-18Trauma Responsive Practices-CRM Slides
Here are some follow-up resources.
Websites for school trauma integration:
Helping Traumatized Children Learn from Trauma Sensitive Schools (Massachusetts Advocates for Children)
The Heart of Teaching and Learning from Washington State
Books:
Peter Levin’s two books: Waking the Tiger: healing Trauma and In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness
Norman Dodge’s books: The Brain Changes Itself and The Brain’s Way of Healing
Rick Hanson: Hardwired for Happiness
Bessel van der Kolk: The Body Keeps the Score
Robert Scaer: The Body Bears the Burden
ACES:
ACES Connection- an online community for those interested in learning more about ACES and what people are doing about it in their communities and professions.
Nadine Burke-Harris-TED Talk on ACES
Healing Neen -Tonier Cain’s story about overcoming ACES and finding recovery and healing