Awards recognize organizations with impactful initiatives targeting social determinants of health (SDoH).
Fargo, ND. Women Empowering Women, Heartview Foundation and Family HealthCare are the first recipients of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Caring Foundation’s Community Champion Awards. This award recognizes organizations making significant strides in addressing health disparities through data-driven initiatives that target social determinants of health.
Marking the first year of these awards, the Caring Foundation received an impressive 22 nominations, showcasing the dedication for improving health disparities of community-based organizations across the state. These three outstanding organizations will each receive a $5,000 grant to support their commitment to advancing community-centered solutions and improving health equity and access within underserved populations in North Dakota.
Women Empowering Women, Dickinson, is an organization that stands out for its commitment to identify and respond to the needs of low-income and minority women in Dickinson and greater Stark county, by removing barriers to preventive health care. The organization does this by translating critical information in both written and verbal formats, offering access to translators who can assist with scheduling appointments, and forging relationships between the women they serve and local providers in hopes of increasing their confidence moving through the health care system.
The Heartview Foundation, Bismarck, Dickinson and Cando, has a rich legacy of providing access to substance use disorder treatment and education. This initiative not only addresses the pressing needs of the state but also eliminates transportation barriers for individuals who would have otherwise traveled over 100 miles to Bismarck for a center that accepts Medicaid or Medicaid Expansion. In a significant extension of their services, the foundation has vastly improved access to substance use treatment in North Dakota. In total, they serve 48 out of 53 counties.
Family HealthCare’s (FHC), Fargo, work is to create a place where patients feel welcome and respected at every step of their health care journey while experiencing personable and affordable care. FHC's Homeless Health Services (HHS) program is a testament to their commitment to addressing the issue of homelessness by promoting health equity. Operating the only homeless health clinic in North Dakota, Family HealthCare in Fargo stands at the forefront of efforts to ensure that individuals experiencing homelessness can easily access health care services to address immediate needs and connect to essential services.
In addition to honoring these North Dakota organizations through the Community Champion Awards, the BCBSND Caring Foundation is pleased to announce a Social Determinants of Health dashboard in partnership with the Center for Social Research at North Dakota State University. This dashboard will help community stakeholders monitor social determinants of health and leverage data for informed decision-making and impactful interventions. The dashboard provides accurate, unbiased data and information curated in one location for each county in North Dakota.
“This user-friendly online platform will better support grantees, nonprofits and communities access information, provide additional resources and help guide and direct activities to areas of greatest need, with the ultimate goal of inspiring meaningful action throughout North Dakota,” said BCBSND Caring Foundation Executive Director, Amber Blomberg.
To view the Social Determinants of Health dashboard, please visit https://ndcompass.org/social-determinants/.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Caring Foundation
Established in 1989, the BCBSND Caring Foundation (www.BCBSND.com/caring-foundation) is a private 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Through giving and investing, the Caring Foundation focuses on key health issues that help improve the health and well-being of North Dakotans and their communities. Caring Foundation staff work with grantees to support nonprofit sustainability, collaborate on shared outcomes and create lasting change.
