June 06, 2022
The MetroWest Health Foundation announced the award of over $1.7 million in grants to area nonprofit and municipal organizations. Based on the recommendations of the foundation's Grant Panels and Distribution Committee, the Board of Trustees have approved the award of twenty-six new grants to MetroWest health and human service organizations. Included in this round of funding are grants to expand mental health services for youth, bolster organizational capacity building, and support those who are at risk due to housing insecurity.
A grant to the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center will support expanded primary medical care in the Greater Milford area. The grant will enable the center to increase the number of medical exam rooms from 9 to 14, increase office space for behavioral health, social and other support services, and launch dental, optometry and pharmacy services for the people who live and work in this region. It is estimated that this expansion will allow the center to serve an additional 5,000 patients per year.
Organizations receiving grants are as follows:
Youth Mental Health Initiative -
Bellingham Public Schools $31,700
To develop a therapeutic framework for the Keough School.
Chica Project $40,570
To enhance supports to Latinx and other women of color in the
Framingham Public Schools $100,000
To address barriers to accessing mental health services.
Northborough/Southborough Public Schools $100,000
To expand clinical supports to students and provide consultation to staff.
Behavioral Health Workforce Capacity Building -
Advocates, Inc. $50,000
To recruit Spanish speaking clinicians.
Massachusetts Association for Mental Health $10,768
To create an inventory of behavioral health workforce incentives.
RIA House Inc. $15,000
To support staff professional development.
Capacity Building –
Holliston Public Schools $25,000
To develop a multitiered system of support for social & emotional Learning.
Human Relations Service $50,000
To implement an electronic medical record system.
Jewish Family Service of Metrowest $40,276
To create a centralized and integrated data collection system.
MetroWest Free Medical Program $24,620
To increase the capacity for behavioral health screenings.
South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc. $50,000
To improve the organization’s website.
Tri-Valley Elder Services $25,000
To improve clinical care coordination.
Community Engagement Initiatives -
MetroWest Nonprofit Network $234,715
To provide continued support for the Voices of the Community Project.
Health & Housing Stability –
Family Promise MetroWest $50,000
To support families facing housing insecurity.
MetroWest Mediation Service $50,000
To use mediation to prevent evictions and avoid homelessness.
Natick Service Council $25,000
To enhance case management services to those facing housing insecurity.
Responsive Grants –
Gaining Ground $8,000
To translate nutrition/recipe information.
Milford Public Schools $20,000
To increase immigrant student access to community health resources.
Northborough Public Schools $8,000
To support the expansion of social & emotional learning programs.
Wayland Police Department $1,873
To purchase equipment for community CPR training.
Women Making Movies $12,000
To support the local showing of “Recovery City.”
Other Recent Grants -
A Place to Turn $150,000
To support expansion of the food pantry.
DeNovo Center for Justice & Healing $55,578
To implement a pilot legal-mental health team approach for addressing the needs of low-income clients needing civil legal aid.
Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center $500,000
To support expansion of services in Milford
MetroWest legal Services $25,000
To support legal assistance for refugees seeking asylum