IU Health grants support diverse needs of children and adults across Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana University Health has awarded $9.5 million to community organizations across the state to meet pressing social and health needs facing children and adults in Indiana.

The grants are from the $200 million Community Impact Investment Fund (CIIF), which is administered by the IU Health Foundation to address key social and environmental factors that heavily affect people’s health outcomes. The foundation awards yearly grants from earnings on the fund’s invested capital. Since the fund was established in 2018 by IU Health, the foundation has secured $3.2 million in additional philanthropic donations to the fund from community organizations.

IU Health has announced more than $20 million in grants to dozens of organizations in Indiana since the fund’s creation. This year’s funded requests are the most diverse yet, touching on childhood development, homeless services, transportation access, housing, workforce development, food insecurity and behavioral health.

“In response to growing needs in Indiana, IU Health doubled the size of its Community Impact Investment Fund in the past year. That has allowed us to significantly increase grants aimed at making Indiana a healthier place to live,” said IU Health President and CEO Dennis Murphy. “Improving health outcomes is vital to the state’s future, and we are hopeful targeted grant-giving and the commitment of our community partners will make a meaningful difference.”

The 2022 grant recipients were notified of their awards this week and plan to share more information about their funded programs in coming weeks.

The following community partners will receive IU Health CIIF funding for 2022 in Marion County:

• Gleaners Food Bank/American Heart Association/Purdue University Center for Health Equity & Innovation: $1 million over three years to reduce health disparities related to cardiovascular disease by addressing food insecurity and nutrition in Marion County. Project activities include deploying health workers for outreach and support and opening food lockers at IU Health Methodist Hospital for use by pantry participants.
• Center for Interfaith Cooperation/IU Health Congregational Care Network: $506,250 over three years to create health support networks in churches using Interfaith Enrichment Corp members and volunteers to work with congregations in Marion County serving racial and ethnic minority communities.
• Peace Learning Center: $487,500 over three years to expand the Restorative Justice Initiative that offers peer mediation to help troubled youth avoid school suspensions and expulsions and develop the skills to avoid conflict. In use in select middle schools in Indianapolis, the program will expand into Marion County high schools.
• Indianapolis Foundation Housing to Recovery: $400,000 over two years to expand the program creating supportive housing for homeless individuals with substance use challenges in Marion County.
• Indianapolis Public Transportation Foundation: $384,594 over two years to help upgrade IndyGo bus stops on the Eastside of Indianapolis to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, so they are safe for all riders.
• Aspire Higher Foundation: $350,000 over three years to develop an Urban Wellness Education Fellowship in the Aspire House on the North-westside of Indianapolis. These education student fellows will immerse themselves in the urban communities where their students live. Aspire House will also provide a wellness center, community education and food and wellness programs, a garden and space for sports and games.

The following community partners will receive IU Health CIIF funding for 2022 across Indiana:

• Southern Indiana Community Health Care: $1.25 million over three years to build a Recovery Engagement Center in Orange County to treat addiction and substance use disorders. The project includes training for behavioral health workers.
• Indiana Latino Institute: $1 million over three years to promote college enrollment among Latino youth in west central Indiana counties, including the use of internships and workforce development.
• Fort Wayne Community Schools/Brightpoint Head Start/Early Childhood Alliance: $1 million over three years to open a Medicaid-subsidized early learning center to support pregnant women in high school and post-graduation. Training also will be offered to young mothers interested in working in childcare jobs.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne: $1 million over three years to further develop the Jim Kelley Career Pathway Center to train teens and young adults to work in skilled trades.
• Clinton County Economic Development Foundation: $750,000 over two years to launch the Clinton County Career Connect Center and Early Learning Childhood Development Center to serve a community with a large Hispanic population. An additional $1.4 million from Center Township, City of Frankfort, Clinton County, Clinton County Chamber of Commerce, Community Foundation of Clinton County, Encompass Credit Union, Frito-Lay, Ivy Tech Frankfort, NHK Seating of America and United Way of Clinton County.
• Urban Light Community Church: $654,000 over three years to develop a social services hub in Muncie, Ind. with offices for health screenings and mental and behavioral health services, space for community meetings and services for those re-entering the community after incarceration. The area hub also will provide services to residents of a nearby six-bed home for men in recovery.
• Ivy Tech Bloomington: $500,000 over three years to hire staff and offer certification courses for medical careers in phlebotomy, electrocardiograph technician, certified clinical medical assistant, certified nursing assistant and emergency medical technician.
• Wheeler Mission: $243,000 over three years to remodel the Wheeler Center for Men in Bloomington to provide space for job training, behavioral health services and medical and case management.