Collaborative Innovations for Community Health
Meet the Grantees
Through the generosity of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® grant, It’s Time Texas awarded eight sub-grants totaling $300,000 to community-based organizations who are able to mobilize and rapidly deploy resources where they are needed most within four designated areas of Texas. Funding will support the delivery of effective programs and services that improve critical health outcomes and address root causes of health disparities, remove barriers to access, and advance community conditions for health and wellness that improve resilience in the face of COVID-19. Check out our grantees!
Grantee Spotlight
Iconium Missionary Baptist Church
Crystal Petry, the Iconium Missionary Baptist Church Grant Manager, grew up in a household that didn’t talk about money. Like so many others, she didn’t know how interest rates worked, loans, debt, or how to stay on track with a weekly budget.
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Austin Metro Area
The two community-based organizations awarded in the Austin Metro Area were Giving Austin Labor Support (GALS) and Urban Roots.
Urban Roots
Urban Roots cultivates leadership skills through food and farming to transform the lives of young people and to inspire, engage, and nourish the community. The purpose of the project is to contribute to better health outcomes of those experiencing hunger or food insecurity by providing fresh, nutrient-dense vegetables at low or no cost to 11 hunger relief organizations.
Giving Austin Labor Support (GALS)
Giving Austin Labor Support (GALS) is dedicated to providing emotional, physical, and informational support to birthing people and healthcare professionals who are under-supported in order to improve birth outcomes and strengthen families. Through the CICH grant funding, GALS will provide 40 families with a trained GALS Birthworker and supplies needed to support their family transition to life with a new baby.
Beaumont, Tx
The two community-based organizations awarded in Beaumont, Texas were Nutrition Services for Seniors and Iconium Missionary Baptist Church.
Nutrition Services for Seniors
Nutrition & Services for Seniors was established in 1983 and is a non-profit agency dedicated to providing innovative, effective programs that assist older adults in leading quality lives while maintaining dignity and independence. The grant will help support the critical Meals on Wheels program that offers daily noon meals, Monday through Friday to frail elderly and disabled adults in the community.
Iconium Family Church
People leading people into a life-changing, ever-growing relationship with Jesus Christ. The Economic Stability program allows people the ability to access resources essential to life, including financial resources, quality housing and food, and a job that provides stable wages. The funds from the CICH grant will be used to provide supplies and make sure the class and office used for the Economic Stability Classes program are ready to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Brazos Valley Region
The two community-based organizations awarded in the Brazos Valley Region were Burleson Health Resource Center and SonShine Outreach Center.
Burleson Health Resource Center
The mission of Burleson Health Resource Center is to improve access of Burleson County residents to needed services thereby improving the overall health of the community. The funding provided by BCBSTX and It’s Time Texas will support and expand the programs capacity to deliver much needed counseling services to county residents and provide transportation to county residents.
SonShine Outreach Center
SonShine Outreach Center helps people in need regardless of race, sex, social or natural origin, or religious background. In the wake of COVID-19, requests for rent/mortgage assistance have almost tripled. It is the goal of the Sonshine Center to transition clients/community members out of crisis with assistance for utilities, rent, mortgage or medical needs.
Rio Grande Valley Region
The two community-based organizations awarded in the Rio Grande Valley Region were Su Clinica and Good Neighbor Settlement House.
Su Clinica
To promote a healthier community by providing access to high value, comprehensive and holistic healthcare services. With this funding, Su Clinica will provide nutritional education and economic assistance to address social determinants through a patient-centered medical home. The project targets the most vulnerable in the RGV, those who are low-income and have been diagnosed with diabetes and obesity.
Good Neighbor Settlement House (GNSH)
Good Neighbor Settlement House, Inc. is a non-profit, multi-service agency dedicated to assisting the needy men, women, and children of Brownsville through programs that provide nutritious meals, clothing, showers, and support services. Through their Community Alliance Program, GNSH will guide clients in completing the steps necessary to begin/continue the process of specialized social services through committed community partnerships and reach sustainable levels of an increased quality of life through systemic process of clients becoming “document-ready” and able to seek employment, return to school, and/or obtain safe and affordable housing.
