April 10, 2024 – Applications for the first round of 2024 North Shore Health Care Foundation (NSHCF) Community Health Grants, are due by 4 pm, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The North Shore Health Care Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit now celebrating its 31st year in Cook County, works to address gaps in health care and community health-related needs locally. The Foundation will award approximately $30,000 this year, to community organizations and programs that contribute to equitable health care and healthy living in Cook County through its semi-annual grant program. The deadline for the second and final round of 2024 NSHCF grant funding is Oct. 1.
“Our Community Health Grants are just one way the North Shore Health Care Foundation helps champion solutions for a healthier Cook County,” said Valerie Marasco Eliasen, Executive Director – North Shore Health Care Foundation. “We believe in the possibilities of people, organizations, businesses, and governments working together to create a healthy community. “We know there is a lot of good work that is happening locally and much more to be done. We are looking forward to reviewing the grant applications and partnering in these initiatives through our grants.”
To be eligible for NSHCF funding, applicants must be a qualified nonprofit 501(c)(3) or partner with a qualified nonprofit as the fiscal sponsor. Initiatives which address the NSHCF key priorities will take precedence. These priorities include:
- Children’s services and family wellbeing
- Accessible health care
- Mental health and wellness for all ages
In addition to the funds awarded through the semi-annual Community Health Grants, the NSHCF will also again issue another $30,000 through our annual Block Grant Program. These are $10,000 lump-sum grants to the key partners who contribute to the delivery of our core mission including year-round:
- Care Partners of Cook County for delivery of seniors’ services and palliative care locally
- Cook County Emergency Services as a collective for delivery of emergency response, and
- Cook County Higher Education for delivery of health care education and healthy living programs.
“Our primary contributions for creating a healthy Cook County lie in our ability to provide and leverage funding, collaborating with local health partners to address critical health issues facing the community, and by advocating with others to help us achieve a healthy community,” said Marasco Eliasen. “Where gaps exist, the Health Care Foundation also develops and incubates programs to address critical needs. We’ve seen success as an incubator with programs we’ve developed including Care Partners of Cook County and the Oral Health Task Force. We are now incubating the Cook County MN Restorative Justice program, the Truancy Solutions Program, and most recently, we have taken over the Early Childhood Hub and will grow this coalition and integrated services over the next few years. The Foundation is tackling community health from many different avenues.”
The Ripple Effect of NSHCF Funding in the Community
NSHCF is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization benefiting health care and emergency services in Cook County, MN. The Foundation proactively identifies opportunities to expand equitable health care and healthy living in Cook County and champions solutions through funding, education, and advocacy. The Foundation has a huge ripple effect across Cook County making a variety of health-focused initiatives possible!
The NSHCF celebrated 30 years in 2023, and funded $129,984 in grants – the highest amount ever! In 2022, NSHCF awarded $64,300 through its semi-annual grant application process and our annual block grants for senior services, emergency services and health care education. In 2020-2021, NSHCF awarded $107,987 in grants to organizations and initiatives which contribute to healthy living, address gaps in health care and improve equitable access to health in rural Cook County. Since 1995, the Foundation has awarded over $1.29 million. The following programs received grants in the last three years:
2023 Highlights: Delivered Block Grant and Semi-annual Community Grant Program, awarding $129,984in grants to:
- $56,282 – North Shore Health Hospital – Simulation Manikin Technology Grant for Workforce Solutions Initiative
- $10,000 – CC Higher Education 2023 – Healthcare education delivery
- $10,000 – Care Partners of Cook County – Senior services and palliative care programs
- $5,497.87 – Cook County Schools ISD 166 – Athletic Department AEDs to reduce cardiac events at sporting events at home and away
- $2,557.50 – Sawtooth Mountain Clinic Early Childhood Hub Positive Parenting Book Clubs
- $10,000 – CC Public Health & Human Services – Collaborative Transportation Solution for Seniors & Accessibility
- $1,000 – North Shore Collaborative – Learning Opportunities Through Stories Program
- $5,000 – Cook County Schools ISD 166 2023-2024 School Year – School Based Mental Health Therapist
- $6,000 – The Grand Marais Art Colony – Art & Health: Memory Care and Grief Program
- $9,500 – Great Expectations School, Oshki Onigamaag Charter School & Consciously Carly, LLC – Mindfulness at School Yoga Program
- $5,550 – WTIP Radio & Consciously Carly, LLC – Mindfulness Mondays Podcast
- $5,600 – Sawtooth Mountain Clinic Medical Assistant Training Program – Workforce Solutions
- $2,997 – Sawtooth Mountain Clinic Certified Pharmacy Technician in Training Program – Workforce Solutions
2022 Highlights: Delivered Block Grant and Semi-annual Community Grant Program, awarding $64,300 in grants to:
- $6,000 – Cook County PPHS – Mental Health First Aid Training for 30 individuals, 15 who work directly with youth for youth mental health first aid
- $1,300 – Sawtooth Mountain Clinic – Early Childhood Connections – Parenting/Caregiver Book Clubs
- $11,300 – Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior: Elderly Services Program
- $6,000 – North Point Youth Center – Youth activities, food security and hygiene program
- $5,000 – The Hub (Cook County Council on Aging) – Food Program Support
- $1,000 – North Shore Collaborative – Learning Opportunities Through Stories Program
- $3,700 – MN Children’s Press – A Children’s Ojibwe Alphabet Book: Youth and Elders Co-create a Primer on Language and Culture.
- $10,000 – Care Partners of Cook County – Senior services and palliative care programs
- $10,000 – Cook County Higher Education – Healthcare education delivery
- $10,000 – Tofte Fire Rescue – Lucas 3.1 Automatic CPR Machine improving survival rates and covering a gap in the west end of the County
2021 Highlights: Delivered Block Grant and Semi-annual Community Grant Program, awarding $49,887 in grants to:
- Care Partners of Cook County – Seniors services and palliative care – $10,000
- Cook County Fire Chiefs’ Association – Creation of Fire Training Facility – $6,000
- Cook County Search & Rescue – Advanced Search and Response Training $4,000
- Cook County Higher Education – Healthcare education and healthy living courses $10,000
- Public Health & Human Services – Collaborative Transportation Solutions for Elders – $10,000 (returned due to lack of additional funding and rerouted to launch
- the Medical Assistant Certification and Training Program at the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic creating six new health care positions)
- The Hub – Medical Equipment Loan Program $1,127
- Learning Opportunities Through Stories (LOTS) Program – early child education and healthy bonding program – $1,000
- Great Expectations School – Anti-Bias Education Training for all educators and paraprofessionals $900
- Northern Lights Health Care PLLC/MN Children’s Press: Baby’s Birth Journey Health Care Coloring & Activity Book. $4,360
- North Shore Minnesota Home School Group: Group Outings Program – $2,500
Grant applications for 2024 NSHCF Community Health Grants and eligibility criteria are available at www.NorthShoreHealthCareFoundation.org.
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Contact: Valerie Marasco Eliasen, Executive Director – North Shore Health Care Foundation, 218-387-5700 or nshcf@boreal.org