Stratis Health is pleased to announce its 2023 Building Healthier Communities Award recipients in conjunction with National Minority Health Month. As part of its commitment to improving the health of communities, Stratis Health has awarded three Minnesota nonprofits with grants totaling $67,000. The Building Healthier Communities Awards supports initiatives that improve health care quality in the community through a keen focus on health equity and patient and family engagement.

“Incorporating equity in our community health efforts strengthens health care delivery and fosters more positive outcomes for individuals. We are excited to provide these grants, which will not only transform the lives of people but also make communities more resilient,” said Jennifer Lundblad, PhD, MBA, President and CEO of Stratis Health.

The Minnesota Action Coalition (MAC) Pipeline for American Indian/Alaska Natives Youth in Nursing and Other Health Professions will use the award to support the initial phases of a multipage, full-featured, interactive website and associated user database that will serve rural and urban-based middle school students, their mentors, parents/guardians, and the MAC organizational partners. The new website will lay the groundwork for a program to mentor American Indian/Alaska Native youths in middle schools statewide to explore academic and career paths in Nursing and other health professions. In addition, the MAC will introduce students to qualities and skills for academic success and build partner relationships with organizations with a similar mission.

The Winona Community Health HUB is the only Pathways Community HUB-certified organization serving as “care traffic control” for a network of community-based care coordination agencies that employ community health workers (CHWs) providing navigation, education, and coordination support to Winona County residents. They will use the funding to expand capacity for existing and ongoing quality improvement monitoring and to produce an analysis of qualitative and qualitative data that includes recommended process improvements. This will be a critical step in their ability to expand staff capacity and conduct accountability follow-up and data analysis for quality improvement.

Raices Sagradas Community Mental Health provides direct, culturally sensitive psychotherapy services – in Spanish and English – to accompany people who have experienced unimaginable pain and trauma as they move toward healing. They will use the funding to provide linguistically and culturally sensitive therapy in Spanish in the Twin Cities to those needing it most and continue ongoing clinical supervisory support. This will help reduce disparities and mental health outcomes for low-income immigrants who often face barriers to mental healthcare due to language barriers, lack of transportation, and other issues.

Stratis Health Board of Directors and staff nominate organizations and projects to receive Building Healthier Communities grants. The awards align with Stratis Health’s mission and vision, advance Stratis Health’s work and relationships, benefit the community, and focus on Minnesota organizations. Since 2007, Stratis Health has awarded 60 grants and over $825,000.