22 groups get Healthy Greenville grants

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The Greenville Health Authority Board of Trustees has awarded 22 grants through its Healthy Greenville program, bringing the total amount of grants to nearly $19.4 million since the program began two years ago. Grant recipients include an opioid-overdose counseling program and initiatives that will provide in-community health outreach, expanded mental health counseling and assistance for veterans.

More than 80% of the grants target underserved populations as part of the Greenville Health Authority’s work with community partners to help break generational cycles of disparities, according to a news release.

The grant program includes micro-grants as small as $5,000 for a single year to three-year macro-grants topping $500,000. By 2052, the program is expected to invest more than $136 million into health programs directly benefiting Greenville County. To date, 34 lead agencies have received grants, although the total number of agencies and community groups collaborating on those grants number nearly 120, the release said.

Macro-grant recipients:

• FAVOR Greenville was awarded a $335,000 grant over three years to expand the FAVOR Overdose Recovery Coaching Evaluation (FORCE) from Greenville Memorial Emergency Department to the emergency departments at Greer Memorial and Hillcrest hospitals.
• Gateway House Inc. was awarded $500,000 over three years to complete construction of a new facility, doubling its capacity to provide rehabilitation opportunities to more than 450 adults recovering from effects of serious and persistent mental illness.
• Unity Health on Main was awarded $540,170 over three years to serve the uninsured and underserved Hispanic, African American and other minority populations along the White Horse Road corridor.
• Taylors Free Medical Clinic was awarded $281,340 over three years to increase capacity for patient care including intake, diagnosis, treatment and educational services.
• Prisma Health Upstate received $100,000 to create a mobile mammography clinic focused on the development of medical resources that address barriers to care and assist with breast cancer prevention efforts.

Micro-grant recipients:

• A Child’s Haven was awarded $6,250 for its Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds program to increase access to health care and mental health care.
• Bob Jones University’s School of Health Professions was awarded $6,250 for its HEAL (Healthy Eating and Active Living) program, a free wellness program to reduce health disparities and improve the well-being of the socioeconomically disadvantaged area of the Arcadia Hills community.
• The Center for Educational Equity was awarded $6,250 for its program to mitigate adverse childhood experiences.
• The Upstate Circle of Friends received $6,250 for its “Can I Eat, Too” program to provide hot nutritious meals to children at risk of going hungry.
• International Ballet was awarded $6,250 for a weekly special-needs dance class.
• Meals on Wheels Greenville received $6,250 for a continuity of care program for vulnerable homebound seniors and individuals.
• Surgeons for Sight was awarded $6,250 to build its diabetic retinopathy program.
• Sustaining Way was awarded $6,250 to increase access to healthy food and improved knowledge of nutrition and healthy behaviors and to help residents reduce utility expenses.
• SWITCH was awarded $6,250 for comprehensive supportive services for survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
• United Ministries was awarded $6,250 to augment existing programs by providing free mental health services to low-income and homeless participants through the addition of a part-time mental health professional to its staff.
• The Urban League of the Upstate was awarded $6,250 for its Urban Girls Rock and Man Cave summer leadership programs.
• YouthBASE received $6,250 for afterschool and summer programs.
• Safe Harbor Inc. was awarded $5,000 to help purchase acreage which will be used as the home of a proposed new shelter for individuals who suffered domestic violence.
• Upstate Warrior Solution was awarded $5,000 for a veterans’ initiative that better allows it to address non-health care related needs.
• The Greenville Family Partnership’s “Just Say Something” program was awarded $5,000 for its Strengthening Families initiative, a 14-week family skills program designed to improve family relationships and parenting skills.
• Greenville Tech Foundation was awarded $5,000 to help improve the community’s dental care.
• Greenville Technical Charter High School was awarded $5,000 for its Get Intentional Toward Fitness exercise safety program targeting students interested in pursuing health occupations.