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Mini-Grant

Community Health Improvement Workgroup Mini-Grant

ResearcherThe latest grant opportunity has passed. Stay tuned for the next request for proposal - coming in 2024!

The Community Health Improvement Workgroup (CHIW) is calling for proposals to fund those who have expertise in either of the two priority areas highlighted in the 2022-2024 Monroe County Joint Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Those two priority areas are:

(1) Addressing Disparities in Maternal and Child Health 

(2) Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being

This CHIW Mini-Grant process will fund small-scale (now up to $15,000) local, city-wide, or county-wide ongoing or new initiatives that are short-term (one year in duration maximum) and address the goals of the 2022-2024 Monroe County CHIP.

Reporting requirements will not be burdensome; however, project leaders will report successes to the CHIW on a periodic basis both through brief written reports and by attending CHIW meetings quarterly.

2023 Awardee

In 2023, the CHIW awarded Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services (RRRS) with $15,000 as the mini-grant awardee, to be used in 2024. RRRS is a small community-based organization that helps New Americans become self-sufficient and successful community members. They own 85 homes in the Rochester area, and house more than 500 people. The goal of this project is to screen refugee children for behavioral health conditions through a CDC Mental Health screening, developed specifically for pediatric patients.

2022 Awardees

The first round of CHIW mini-grantees are the Wellness Associates of Greater Rochester (WAGR) and Metro Council for Teen Potential (MCTP). WAGR promoted mental health and well-being through training key stakeholders in Mental Health First Aid—an internationally-recognized program designed to increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of mental illness and decrease negative stigmas associated with these conditions. Five courses were held, with 61 individuals attending full training and 45 becoming certified in Mental Health First Aid.

MCTP addressed disparities in maternal and child health through relaunching a media campaign that supported the reproductive justice and autonomy of young women and prevent unintended pregnancy in the City of Rochester. The campaign had 2 million impressions, and more than 7,500 visits to the website.