Grantmaking

Current Initiatives

School-Based Health Centers

The Foundation will release a Request for Proposal for business and operation planning for School-Based Health Centers on April 1, 2010. The grants are for up to $35,000 for a seven month planning period, and are intended to prepare grantees to apply for implementation funding that will be available in 2011. The implementation grant for school-based health centers will provide start-up funding for three years, and challenge grant funding for an additional two years to assist with program sustainability. A community education forum will take place Monday, March 22 at the Erie Playhouse from 3-5 pm. A grantseekers workshop is scheduled for April 12 at Erie DAWN from 3-5 pm. To register for either event, please call The Foundation at: (814) 454-0843.

Past Achievements

The Access to Care Initiative is a collaborative of The Erie Community Foundation, the Area Health Education Center, the Highmark Foundation, the Erie County Department of Health, Community Health Net, and the PartnerSHIP for a Healthy Community, which works to identify and pursue opportunities to expand access to care in Erie County. The effort—funded by ECF—has leveraged more than two million dollars, and has achieved significant accomplishments highlighted below.

• Dental Clinic at the Martin Luther King Center- this is a funding collaborative of the Erie Community Foundation, the Highmark Foundation, and the Hamot Health Foundation. Community Health Net began dental operations at the Martin Luther King Center on June 1, 2008. The site provides both general dentistry and oral surgery services.
• The Multicultural Health Evaluation Delivery System (MHEDS) was funded by a PA challenge grant for a three year period to expand their services of to the Harbor Homes Development.
• Onsite Pharmacy established at Community Health Net scheduled to open in July 2010. This is a funding collaborative of the Erie Community Foundation, LECOM, and federal funding supported by Congresswoman Dahlkemper.
• Community Health Net site expansion to Harborcreek. The Erie Community Foundation funded a successful proposal to the Health Resources and Services Administration resulting in $588,00 to expand medical capacity in the Medically Underserved Area (MUA) in the east side of Erie County. The site is expected to open in July 2010.
• Community Health Net is currently working with the Housing Authority to open a new dental clinic on site at the Horan Apartments.

The group continues to meet quarterly at The Foundation to pursue opportunities to increase access to care as they become available.