Contact: Maria Garcia | mariag@healthtrust.org | 408.513.8729
San Jose, CA – On March 25, 2020, The Health Trust’s Board of Trustees met by teleconference and approved four Health Partnership grants totaling $337,728 to Life Services Alternatives, West Valley Community Services, School Health Clinics, and Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative.
The grants will prioritize nutritious food for developmentally disabled seniors; meet growing client food needs in the west valley by focusing on strengthening organizational capacity and infrastructure; strengthen and streamline access to care for STI/HIV services; and improve physical health for middle school girls in East San Jose.
While we are facing unimaginable challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we felt it was imperative, now more than ever, to maintain our unwavering support for our mission-driven grantee partners. These projects were developed over the last several months and support the health and wellbeing of our most vulnerable community members.
Health Partnership Grant Awards
Life Services Alternative
To develop a food curriculum tailored for developmentally disabled seniors, providing them the opportunity to make healthy eating choices to support their health and wellbeing. This project was born from a new mandate implemented by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services that requires that residents be provided with more decision power regarding life choices.
West Valley Community Services
To strengthen West Valley Community Services’ infrastructure and capacity to meet growing client demand by expanding and renovating its food pantry. This project will increase access to nutritious food, and increase the number of individuals and families served by at least 50%.
School Health Clinics
To streamline access to care for HIV/STI services, focusing on strengthening its systems and capacity, including electronic health record improvements, workflow development, and staff training; and expand its practice system change project to two SHC sites: the Washington Neighborhood Health Clinic (in San Jose) and the Gilroy Neighborhood Health Clinic.
Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI)
To develop and institutionalize a BAWSI Girls Middle School Program Curriculum and pilot the program at a middle school in East San Jose, specifically in the 95122 zip code.
Our Work in Response to COVID-19
As the consequences of COVID-19 continue to rise the impact has been profound for many of our grantee partners who are supplying a critical lifeline to our most vulnerable. In response, The Health Trust is working with current grantees to offer no-cost extensions on Health Partnership funded projects, as well as maintaining support for Community Grants-funded events and projects impacted by the pandemic.
Additionally, we are temporarily pausing new project-specific support and pivoting to a funding strategy to provide some relief to existing grantee partners who continue to provide essential services to our most vulnerable during the current public health crisis.