bi3 awards $1.6 million to improve the health and well-being of children and families

bi3, a funding initiative to transform health for all people in Greater Cincinnati, announced today it is awarding $1.6 million in grants to five nonprofit organizations to improve the health and well-being of children and families. The grants will fuel programs that directly serve families and research and advocacy efforts that advance policy change.

“To tackle our community’s deep-seated health challenges and achieve real change, we need programs, partnerships and policy change,” Jill Miller, President & CEO of bi3, said. “bi3 looks forward to collaborating with these organizations to ensure all families and children have a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.”

Grant Recipients:

• $1.3 million to Fernside Center for Grieving Children: The three-year grant will expand bereavement services, such as support groups and crisis programs, to more schools and families while also seeding an endowment to support the organization long-term. If left untreated, grief can lead to adverse long-term effects on a child’s mental well-being and contribute to future depression and self-destructive behaviors. Fernside, a Bethesda Inc. entity, is one of the oldest childhood bereavement services in the country and a nationally-recognized leader.
• $150,000 to the Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO): The three-year grant will support HPIO’s policy research and leadership, aiding policymakers in their decision-making to improve the health of Ohio families and children. HPIO provides independent and nonpartisan health information aligned with bi3’s priority areas, such as child health and infant mortality, health equity, mental health and social drivers of health.
• $50,000 to the Children’s Defense Fund – Ohio (CDF): The one-year grant will support CDF’s advocacy efforts during the Ohio State Legislature’s budgeting process. CDF champions policies and programs that lift children from poverty, protect them from abuse and neglect, and ensure access to healthcare and quality education.
• $50,000 to the Ohio Children’s Alliance: Funding will support advocacy efforts focusing on mental and behavioral health, child welfare and early childhood mental health. The Ohio Children’s Alliance leads the Ohio Children’s Mental Health Budget Coalition, which aims to advance state policies that enhance mental health and prevention programming for youth.
• $35,000 to First Step Home: Funding will support training for therapists of the new Family Unity Center. Recognizing that addiction and recovery affect—and are impacted by—family relationships, First Step Home has opened the Family Unity Center to offer therapy and support services to families. The Family Unity Center will serve existing clients and their families and will eventually be open to all Walnut Hills residents.

Since 2010, bi3 has awarded more than $89 million to TriHealth and community-based organizations to fuel healthcare innovation and health equity.