bi3 awards over $2.27 million in grants to advance health equity in the region

$500,000 to Primary Health Solutions: The three-year grant will fuel the expansion of integrated maternal health services for underserved pregnant women with high-risk, complicated pregnancies throughout Butler County. It will include ultrasounds, diabetic management, mental health services, and additional support during mom’s first year postpartum and baby’s first year of life. Ultimately, Primary Health Solutions, which is exploring a partnership with TriHealth, aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.

$400,000 to Uzima Rejuvenation Station in conjunction with NyNi, Inc.: The three-year grant will support Black Midwives: Champions for Maternal Health Initiative.  The program provides culturally competent childbirth education and breastfeeding support, as well as education and resources to address the social determinants of health. The program will serve a significant portion of Black expectant parents and babies in Butler County, improving infant mortality rates and health outcomes.

$272,000 to Christ Tabernacle Ministries of Excellence: bi3 awarded a two-year grant to launch Next Gen Mental Health Check. This program will provide vital mental health resources through education, peer support groups, and events and connect people to available care and resources. Efforts will increase access to culturally competent mental health services and establish community support networks.

150,000 to IV-CHARIS: The one-year grant will support the development of a pilot program to improve mental health access and services for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) families and children in Fairfield and West Chester. The program provides a combination of mental health assessments, music-infused art therapy and support from community health workers to help families access additional healthcare resources.

$750,000 to Groundwork Ohio: The three-year grant will support the Center for Maternal and Young Child Health in advancing best practices in prenatal-to-five health policy. The Center will engage in research and policy analysis, provide advocacy training for stakeholders and families and build a statewide coalition to advocate for policy changes that lead to improved health outcomes for moms and young children. The funding builds on bi3’s $1.2 million grant in 2021 that launched the Center—which played a key role in expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage in Ohio.

$200,000 to Cradle Cincinnati: The award will support Cradle Cincinnati continuing to serve nearly 1,000 mothers through community health workers, ensuring the sustainment of services that helped lower infant mortality rates in Hamilton County.