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Faith-Based Health Initiative
Places of worship play an important role in the health of those living in vulnerable and underserved communities. They are trusted sources for health information and referrals, a gateway for important screening and early intervention, and a community of support for those managing chronic disease. Through partnership and collaboration with healthcare providers, places of worship can promote long-term sustainable approaches to the reduction of health disparities in their communities. In 2010, the Westchester Community Foundation launched its Faith-Based Health Initiative to promote programs that strengthen the capacity of individuals to make well informed decisions about options that affect their lives. Through its Health Fund, the Foundation supported partnerships between healthcare providers and places of worship to address health disparties in Westchester's most vulnerable communities. In 2011, the Foundation awarded second year renewal grants of $30,000 to Sister to Sister International and Hudson River HealthCare to expand health education and access to healthcare in the Cities of Yonkers and Peekskill.
Children's Environmental Health Center of the Hudson Valley Infants and children, with their smaller and still-developing bodies, are particularly vulnerable to environmental toxins. In New York, the disease most closely linked with environmental toxins is asthma. Unfortunately, the prevalence of asthma continues to rise. Contributors to childhood asthma include poor air quality and exposure to second-hand smoke. School-age children can be affected by mold and dirty ventilation systems in school facilities, and exposure to idling diesel-powered schoolbuses. Primary care physicians, healthcare providers, parents, and caregivers can play an important role in identifying environmental triggers for asthma and other childhood health issues related to environmental toxins. Launched with our support in 2008, the Children's Environmental Health Center of the Hudson Valley is a partnership of New York Medical College and Maria Fareri Children's Hospital. It provides clinical consultations and education to the medical community and the public about childhood exposure to environmental toxins. In 2011, the Foundation awarded $30,000 for continued support of the Center's efforts to educate and inform the medical community and the public about the effects of environmental toxins on children's health.
Proposals for 2012 will be due on September 7, 2012. For more information, contact Laura Rossi-Ortiz, Program Officer, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it g, or (914) 948-5166 ext. 4.
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Westchester Community Foundation is sponsoring a 2011-2012 film series dedicated to generating discussion around topics that affect us locally, including health, environment, education, housing, and energy. The third film in this series was 

