Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Caring Foundation has awarded its second round of SPARK grants. Strengthening People, Access, Resources and Knowledge (SPARK) grants are awarded to community-based initiatives that encourage health and well-being in local communities, reflect community priorities and demonstrate strong local collaborations.
BCBSND congratulates the following 2021 Fall SPARK grant recipients who successfully demonstrated innovation, sustainability and the opportunity to create lasting change in their communities.
- NATIVE, Inc., Bismarck & Fargo: Implementing culturally responsive homeless prevention as well as behavioral health prevention services among Native American and other homeless populations. This includes coordinated care services that provide support and connection to fellow participants through attaining motivation while setting long-term and short-term goals, problem solving, and providing peer support.
- Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health (BBPH): In partnership with Bismarck Public Schools and the local foods coordinator (LFC), they will expand their farm-to-school program by enhancing the element of education. The farm-to-school program will benefit the entire community by buying locally, providing kids access to local fresh foods, providing hands-on learning and creating a space for kids to grow a positive relationship with food.
- Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas (CHAD), Statewide: CHAD will work to identify and address health equity by engaging community health centers from across North Dakota in a “shared gifting” process, an interactive form of participatory grantmaking. Health centers will be challenged to identify health equity issues in their community and prepare a comprehensive plan to address these gaps, plus track and measure outcomes. Funds will be dispersed based on the needs assessment, strength of the presentation and effective implementation plan.
BCBSND Caring Foundation will begin accepting letters of intent for 2022 SPARK grants beginning January 2022. View our website for more details or email questions to caringfoundation@bcbsnd.com.
