NEW BEDFORD – Southcoast Health invested more than $22 million in community health initiatives in fiscal year 2018, according to its recently released Community Benefits Report.
Through its initiatives, the New Bedford-based health care system focuses on chronic disease, access to health care and safe, affordable housing, along with transportation, nutritional needs, and education and employment opportunities. Southcoast Health collaborates with more than 100 community partners to address these issues.
In addition, the nonprofit is in the process of a community health needs assessment, which analyzes a number of factors, including secondary data analysis, stakeholder interviews, focus groups and community surveys to identify how to address health and social conditions within the community.
Community impact opportunity grants, awarded through a competitive annual program, allows Southcoast Health to support local groups with new ideas on how to address unmet health and social needs in the south coast region. Over the past four years, the program has awarded more than $500,000 through more than 100 grants.
During fiscal year 2018, Southcoast Health also led and participated in more than 30 community coalitions comprised of teachers, law enforcement, businesses, religious leaders and others working for safer, healthier communities.
The Southcoast Health Community Benefits Program falls under the direction of the Community Benefits Advisory Council that meets six times a year to review the group’s benefit activities and expenditures.
