Grants totaling $150,000 have been awarded to community-based organizations whose programs and services rapidly improve critical health outcomes in their communities.

Galveston County and San Antonio Metro — The statewide nonprofit, It’s Time Texas, whose mission is to empower Texans to lead healthier lives and build healthier communities, has awarded $150,000 in sub-grant funding through a Healthy Kids, Healthy Families (HKHF) grant by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX). The HKHF funding supports BCBSTX’s commitment to community-based organizations supporting children’s families who have been impacted by health, economic, and social implications.

“Our collaboration with It’s Time Texas allows us to strategically and directly target organizations that are focused on moving the needle in health equity solutions,” said Sheena Payne, BCBSTX’s Director of Community Investments.

It’s Time Texas, with this sub-grant funding, aims to target the root causes of social and health inequities, specifically in Galveston County and San Antonio Metro. Funding will support the delivery of effective programs and services that improve critical health outcomes, remove barriers to access, and advance community conditions for health and wellness.

Through a Collaborative Innovations for Community Health (CICH) project, the grantees will work collaboratively with It’s Time Texas to improve their communities and have their stories told. Resources will be rapidly deployed to communities of Texas where strategic investments of support and resources will improve health outcomes in Galveston County and San Antonio Metro. Funded project work by each organization will begin March 14 and finish December 31, 2022.

Community-based organizations to receive funding include:

• Galveston County Health District (GCHD) – Galveston County
• Galveston’s Own Farmer’s Market (GOFM) – Galveston County
• St. Vincent’s House (SVH) – Galveston County
• Culinary Health Education for Families (CHEF) – San Antonio Metro
• Fuerza Unida – San Antonio Metro

“We are very excited to be entering year two of this partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas,” said Amy McGeady, CEO of It’s Time Texas. “This gap-filling funding will not only support immediate outcomes to address health-related social needs, but will also provide community access to resources and programs offered by It’s Time Texas to build community capacity to create long-term solutions.”

Get to know each of the grantees and follow their progress throughout the year by visiting cich.itstimetexas.org and following @itstimetx on social media.

About It’s Time Texas

It’s Time Texas is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to bring people, communities, and organizations together to take action that supports health for all, now and generations to come. At It’s Time Texas, we believe that every Texan should have an equal opportunity to live a long and healthy life, but we recognize that social and environmental factors have long prevented that vision from becoming a reality. To truly address health for all Texans, we root our work in the knowledge that unjust systems have created disparities for communities of color, low-income communities, and other marginalized populations. Dramatically improving health and equity requires a systemic approach that centers and values community voices to address the root causes of poor health and also the shaping of environments in which we live and work to make healthy choices possible and practical for all Texans. We work to create a culture of health where health is a shared value and health equity is a reality. Join us at www.itstimetexas.org and follow us on social media @itstimetx to learn more.