Two Special Grants from Episcopal Health Foundation

In January 2020…

Santa Maria was awarded special funding for our Caring for Two program from Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF)

At that time, EHF announced a groundbreaking $3.4 million investment in programs that are focused on healthy infant brain development and giving Texas children the best chance at a healthy life. SMH’s award was game changing for our ability to deliver and develop Caring For Two.

EHF’s investment included grants to 12 innovative organizations across the state that are implementing proven practices for early childhood brain development during pregnancy and the first three years of a child’s life.

“We’re working to improve health, not just healthcare by supporting programs that teach parents how to build their babies’ brains for a lifetime of better health,” said Elena Marks, EHF’s president and CEO. “It doesn’t get any more upstream or preventive than that.”

EHF’s effort is based on knowledge that a child’s first three years offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build a healthy brain, develop a curious and creative mind, and lay a strong foundation for a healthy life.

The projects supported by EHF’s latest investment provide tools and trustworthy information that are based on solid science. They include home-visiting programs, clinic-based models, community groups, parent education and more. The organizations are located across the state, including Austin, Houston, Lufkin and Palacios.

“We now know that interaction with other humans is essential to early brain construction,” said EHF program officer Katy Butterwick. “A baby or toddler in a strong relationship with at least one caring adult will develop language, cognitive skills, and the resilience that allows him/her to face and overcome adversity. That includes a decreasing chance of developing serious illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression later in life.”

Now, again…

Episcopal Health Foundation has stepped up to provide first round emergency funding to SMH during this health crisis. Here’s the announcement…

EHF has awarded $1.6 million in grants to 23 nonprofit clinics and other organizations that are on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis serving at-risk communities in Texas. This first round of funding is part of EHF’s $10 million COVID-19 response plan to address the ongoing crisis.

“Communities across Texas are reeling from the medical and economic fallout from COVID-19 and these are clinics and organizations providing critical health care and other health-related services to those who need them the most,” said Elena Marks, EHF’s president and CEO. “In many cases, there’s increased demand for services at a time when the organizations themselves are facing serious financial challenges. These grants are designed to help them continue business operations during the crisis.”

EHF’s COVID-19 grants are supporting community clinics serving low-income Texans, behavioral and mental health organizations, rural health centers, nonprofits offering enrollment in health and other benefit programs, and groups working in early childhood brain development. All of the organizations receiving these COVID-19 grants are current EHF grantees working within the foundation’s strategic plan to improve health, not just health care in Texas. In addition to added demand and additional costs, many of these organizations are also transitioning to telehealth and remote services during the pandemic.

“Public health events like COVID-19 are experienced even more deeply by low-income communities or those living in a neighborhood that just doesn’t have access to many different services needed to be healthy,” said Marks. “To do this important work, we know that the organizations and clinics working in these communities and supported by EHF must remain strong and effective both now and in the future.”

We, at SMH, are grateful for this additional support in this crucial time. It will assist us in changing our delivery models, while continuing to serve critical needs.