For far too long, healthcare has separated the body from the mind rather than treating the whole person. This Mental Health Awareness Month, we are so proud to see that through bi3 Fund investments, our strategic partner, TriHealth, is changing that model through the expanded integration of behavioral health services in all pediatric and primary care locations and specialty areas. We are also investing time and resources into responding to our youth mental health crisis, collaborating with local funders and community partners to co-develop a 10-year strategy to ensure our youth have a fair and just opportunity to achieve mental wellness.
Throughout May, we also celebrate all the moms in our lives. For the past decade, bi3 has prioritized moms by investing in and partnering with TriHealth, Cradle Cincinnati, and other community-based organizations to improve birth outcomes for local moms and babies. bi3 continues to invest and foster resources that surround moms with the support they need.
May also brings graduations! I was proud to help celebrate TriHealth’s fourth School to Work class, a program co-funded by the bi3 Fund to help diversify our healthcare workforce. These graduating students are our future and will change the face of healthcare.
Last, I want to thank the YWCA Greater Cincinnati for recognizing me as a Career Woman of Achievement. It is the most meaningful award I have received throughout my career. I promise to continue to lift up other women as I climb and to advocate for racial and health equity.
Jill Miller
President & CEO, bi3
bi3 News + Partner Updates
TriHealth continues to expand access to behavioral health
Fueled by a $9 million bi3 Fund investment, TriHealth continues to expand the integration of Behavioral Health services into pediatric and adult primary care locations and other specialty areas, including obstetrics and oncology, throughout the system.
To date, more than 25 practices have integrated behavioral health professionals, with 12 additional practices slated to adopt services over the next year. Additionally, TriHealth has hired 39 behavioral and mental health professionals over the past year to expand access to patients with commercial and Medicaid insurance. As a result, thousands of patients receive the care and support they need to improve their health and quality of life.
bi3’s Jill Miller recently joined Dr. Dallas Auvil, TriHealth System Chief of Behavioral Health, for a discussion with the Cincinnati Business Courier on Greater Cincinnati’s mental health system and its growing needs.
Hopeful Empowered Youth (HEY!) searching for Executive Director
HEY! (Hopeful Empowered Youth)—a diverse coalition working collaboratively to create a community that supports the well-being of all youth—is searching for its first Executive Director!
As we finalize our collective action plan in the next few months, this leader will drive the execution of HEY!’s agenda to substantially improve youth mental health and well-being across the region.
The Executive Director will champion a compelling vision for the collaborative and execute a community-wide plan to achieve meaningful results toward that vision. This leader will mobilize diverse community partners, resources, and youth to drive collective impact. Finally, the leader will ensure that we measure results and track our community’s progress, adapt over time, and scale what works to make our region a leader in supporting the well-being of the next generation.
The application deadline is Friday, May 31, at 5 p.m. EST.
TriHealth School to Work students celebrate graduation
The bi3-fueled School to Work program celebrated 16 graduates this year! Among this year’s graduating class, 13 students are college-bound, two plan to enlist in military service to pursue careers in nursing, and one is immediately pursuing a healthcare career. All of the graduates credit their two-year experience for their career choices.
The School to Work program—a collaboration between TriHealth and Cincinnati Public Schools—allows CPS high school juniors and seniors to gain meaningful, real-life healthcare experience over two years while receiving a paycheck.
Jill Miller praised students’ hard work and commitment at the graduation ceremony.
Grantee Spotlight: Preston Brown Foundation
In partnership with the United Way and Black Empowerment Works, bi3 launched the bi3 Health Equity Fund in 2022 with a three-year $1,000,000 grant to drive equitable health outcomes through Black-led grantees. The initiative leans into Black-led grassroots organizations with lived experience to pilot solutions to address health disparities.
Executive Director of the Preston Brown Foundation, Patrice McDowell-Brown, shared how the $40,000 bi3 grant enabled them to offer Youth Mental Health First Aid training and address mental health stigma among youth through arts-based therapy, self-care activities, and field trips.
bi3 Team Focus: Jena’ Bradley and Zohar Perla
Last Fall, bi3 increased its capacity and experience to deeply engage with the community and measure its learning and impact by adding two team members: Jena Bradley, Director of Community Partnerships, and Zohar Perla, Director of Evaluation and Learning.
Learn more about what drives their passion and commitment to bi3 and the work to promote health equity in our community.
Jill Miller honored as YWCA Career Woman of Achievement
Congratulations to all of the 2024 YWCA Greater Cincinnati Career Women of Achievement honorees, including our own Jill Miller and Bethesda Inc. Board Member Christie Kuhns, who were honored at a sold-out event earlier this month.
It was an amazing day celebrating this year’s honorees’ many diverse contributions to our community.
For more updates on the work of bi3 and our funded partners, be sure to follow us on social media!
