Investing in community initiatives to address health disparities
The HEF has invested $1.6 million in 17 organizations working to improve health and address root causes of health disparities in communities across Richmond.
Additional investments are being made ongoing in community organizations and initiatives filling gaps to address health disparities.
The Richmond Health Equity Fund is managed by Richmond and Henrico Public Health Foundation.
While RHPHF and Richmond and Henrico Health Districts serve all of Richmond and Henrico, with current funding, the HEF only considers and funds projects taking place within the City of Richmond.
We understand deeply that residents in Richmond and Henrico and the broader region face many of the same health challenges and systemic injustices, but the federal funding that makes the HEF possible has been specifically allocated to Richmond and cannot fund projects in Henrico at this time.
To prioritize where the HEF makes investments, a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) of Richmond residents informs and leads these decisions. CAC members have a combination of both lived and professional experience in the health disparities of focus for the HEF.
The CAC has helped to shape the process, championing community-based nominations, as well as the selections for funding, weighing complex questions of how the HEF can best fill gaps to address community needs.
Consistent with the Mayor’s Equity Agenda, the HEF invests in new work — or supports expansions or enhancements to existing work — led by nonprofit and community organizations that directly addresses a range of health disparities, including:
The HEF funds projects that serve Richmond residents – addressing health disparities and building strong, thriving communities across the City.
Gaps in funding and resources too often create or exacerbate disparities in our health outcomes. The HEF seeks to fill these gaps for vital, innovative, evidence-based initiatives. Single organizations, collaboratives, and individual leaders are all eligible for funding. Funding decisions are made with the HEF’s Community Advisory Committee.
The HEF is not currently accepting applications. Applications will open in May 2024.
Cultural and language supportive services to ensure access to testing and treatment and connections for broader follow up care.
Personal follow up and support for unstably housed patients to ensure access to up to date vaccination and connections to primary care.
STI/STD testing and emergency support services.
Vaccine and other resource access and referral services for Spanish-speaking clients.
Three-season youth farming program and online urban farm fellowship.
Culturally relevant emergency nutrition services.
Access to community doulas for Richmond families and training and certification support for doulas.
Maternal hub program providing an allotment of diapers to families in need.
Doula services and perinatal programs that support justice-impacted birthing people in prison, jail, rehabilitation facilities and on probation in the community.
Mental and behavioral health care support for those experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.
Expanding community and individual mental health services in three RRHA community resource centers.
Community based, healing-centered case management program for youth touched by the criminal legal system.
Love Cathedral Education Academy (LCEA) curriculum implementation and recovery-centric services to assist those in treatment or in recovery for substance use disorder.
Transitional housing support and case management for residents returning from incarceration settings with a history of substance use.
Transitional housing support and case management for residents returning from incarceration settings with a history of substance use.
Transitional housing support and case management for residents returning from incarceration settings with a history of substance use.
Community-engaged design and planning for holistic healing space.
We add updates and information to this site to inform our communities and partners on the HEF’s activities.
For additional information, contact Shaleetta Drawbaugh, the Program Officer for the HEF.