CHUCKANUT HEALTH FOUNDATION

CHUCKANUT HEALTH FOUNDATION (CHF) ADVANCES HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN WHATCOM COUNTY BY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-LED SOLUTIONS, STRENGTHENING NONPROFIT PARTNERS, AND COORDINATING COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THAT ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF HEALTH DISPARITIES. CHF'S PROGRAMMATIC WORK ALIGNS WITH FIVE MAJOR PRIORITY AREAS: OPIOID AND SUBSTANCE USE RESPONSE, HEALTHY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, SENIOR WELL-BEING, YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.COMMUNITY-LED GRANTMAKING AND TARGETED PROGRAM SUPPORTCHF PROVIDES GRANTS, COACHING, AND FISCAL SPONSORSHIP TO ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ACROSS THE LIFESPAN. FUNDS SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD AND FAMILY STABILITY SERVICES, CULTURALLY SPECIFIC OUTREACH FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, AGING AND DEMENTIA-SUPPORT INITIATIVES, HARM REDUCTION AND TREATMENT-ACCESS EFFORTS, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION. CHF ALSO MANAGES DONOR-RESTRICTED AND DEFINED-PURPOSE FUNDS THAT DELIVER DIRECT SUPPORT SUCH AS CANCER CARE ASSISTANCE, EMERGENCY BASIC NEEDS, AND INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECTS. THESE INVESTMENTS STRENGTHEN LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, SENIORS, AND INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. CHUCKANUT HEALTH FOUNDATION HAS GRANTED OVER $17 MILLION TO WHATCOM COUNTY HEALTH RELATED NONPROFIT PROJECTS SINCE 1982 TO SUPPORT ADVANCING INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN EQUIPMENT FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, SUPPORT FOR IMPROVING HEALTH CARE ACCESS, ELDER SERVICES SUPPORT AND HEALTH, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, AND SUPPORT FOR HEALTHY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.BACKBONE SUPPORT FOR COUNTYWIDE HEALTH INITIATIVESCHF PLAYS A COORDINATING AND FACILITATIVE ROLE IN SEVERAL CROSS-SECTOR INITIATIVES. THIS INCLUDES STAFFING AND MANAGING ALL HANDS WHATCOM, A COUNTYWIDE CONVENING FOCUSED ON OPIOID AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT; SUPPORTING AGING WELL WHATCOM, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES THAT HELP OLDER ADULTS AGE SAFELY AND WITH DIGNITY; AND CONTRIBUTING LEADERSHIP AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO EARLY CHILDHOOD, YOUTH WELLNESS, AND FAMILY RESILIENCE PARTNERSHIPS. CHF STAFF PROVIDE PROJECT MANAGEMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND COLLABORATIVE PLANNING TO HELP PARTNERS IMPLEMENT ALIGNED STRATEGIES AND IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES.YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND FAMILY WELL-BEINGCHF INVESTS IN PROGRAMS THAT EXPAND ACCESS TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, STRENGTHEN SCHOOL-BASED SUPPORTS, AND ENGAGE FAMILIES EXPERIENCING INSTABILITY OR TRAUMA. THIS INCLUDES SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE COUNSELING, PEER SUPPORT, PARENT EDUCATION, AND CRISIS-RESPONSE ACTIVITIES. CHF ALSO PARTICIPATES IN COUNTY-LEVEL PLANNING BODIES WORKING TO IMPROVE THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONTINUUM FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS.OPIOID AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESPONSETHROUGH GRANTMAKING AND CONVENING EFFORTS, CHF SUPPORTS HARM REDUCTION, TREATMENT ACCESS, RECOVERY SERVICES, AND SYSTEM NAVIGATION FOR INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY SUBSTANCE USE. CHF'S ROLE INCLUDES CROSS-AGENCY COORDINATION, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, AND ELEVATING LIVED-EXPERIENCE PERSPECTIVES WITHIN PLANNING PROCESSES. THESE EFFORTS CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE RESPONSIVE AND INTEGRATED LOCAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM.SENIOR SERVICES AND HEALTHY AGINGCHF SUPPORTS COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND NETWORKS THAT SERVE OLDER ADULTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FACING ISOLATION, MOBILITY CHALLENGES, OR LIMITED RESOURCES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SUPPORTING DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY INITIATIVES, CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAMS, AND COORDINATED AGING-WELL PLANNING ACROSS PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS.CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATIONCHF FOSTERS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BY HOSTING EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, FACILITATING RESIDENT INPUT INTO LOCAL SYSTEMS, AND ELEVATING COMMUNITY VOICES IN PLANNING PROCESSES. THE FOUNDATION COLLABORATES WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT COMMITTEES, HEALTH AND JUSTICE SYSTEM COALITIONS, AND LOCAL NONPROFITS TO ENSURE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE INFORMS POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS. THESE ACTIVITIES STRENGTHEN CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND HELP RESIDENTS NAVIGATE COMPLEX HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEMS.