Ottauquechee Health Foundation Inc

THE FOUNDATION STRIVES TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE IN NEED WHO LIVE IN THE TOWNS WE SERVE THROUGH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND SUPPORT OF WELLNESS INITIATIVES.

GRANTS AND FUNDING. THROUGH THEIR GOOD NEIGHBOR GRANTS, OTTAUQUECHEE HEALTH FOUNDATION (OHF) IS ABLE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY FOR NECESSARY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CARE. THE GOOD NEIGHBOR GRANTS SUPPORT NEEDS RANGING FROM MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE TO MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, HEARING AIDS, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, WELLNESS SAFETY AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES HOMECARE GRANTS TO COORDINATE CAREGIVERS AT HOME, ASSISTING WITH EVERYDAY TASKS OF LIVING. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION COLLABORATES WITH OTHER NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT CREATE PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF COMMUNITIES.

COMMUNITY. OHF WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AREA HEALTH PROVIDERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE CARE COORDINATION AND SUPPORT. THE FOUNDATION STAFF SPENT 40% OF ITS TIME IN 2023 HELPING COMMUNITY MEMBERS GAIN ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE HEALTHY, BY CONNECTING THEM WITH COMMUNITY CARE COORDINATORS, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, CASE WORKERS, AND OTHER EXTERNAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND AID ORGANIZATIONS. OHF STAFF ALSO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AT LOCAL FOOD SHELVES.

WINDSOR CENTRAL HEALTH INITIATIVE & MINDFUL SELF. THE WINDSOR CENTRAL WELLNESS INITIATIVE (WCWI) IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF THE OTTAUQUECHEE HEALTH FOUNDATION (OHF) AND THE WINDSOR CENTRAL MODIFIED UNIFIED UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT (WCMUUSD) TO BRING TRAUMA-INFORMED, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL CENTERED WELLNESS PROGRAMMING TO THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, SCHOOL STAFF, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE WCWI SEEKS TO ADDRESS RISING LEVELS OF PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESS EXPERIENCED BY TODAY'S YOUTH, DUE IN PART TO PERVASIVE DIGITAL MEDIA AND PRESSING SOCIOPOLITICAL ISSUES, INCLUDING GUN VIOLENCE, POLITICAL CONFLICT, CONCERNS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THE IMPACT OF THE CURRENT COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE MINDFUL SELF (SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING FOUNDATIONS) PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN SEVERAL OF OUR DISTRICT'S SCHOOLS THREE YEARS AGO. THE PROGRAM REACHED MORE THAN 400 STUDENTS IN FIVE AREA SCHOOLS. STUDENT REPORTS REVEALED IMPROVED MINDFUL ATTENTION, COMPASSION, KINDNESS, AND CAPACITY TO LEARN. OVER THE NEXT 3-4 YEARS, THE WCWI WILL BUILD UPON THE SUCCESS OF THE MINDFUL SELF PROGRAM BY PROVIDING INTERVENTIONS THAT ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES OF TRAUMATIC STRESS.

OHF IS A PROUD AND ACTIVE PARTNER, ALONG WITH WOODSTOCK COMMUNITY TRUST, OF THE HUB. THE HUB IS AN IMPORTANT NEW INITIATIVE TO BUILD A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY-WIDE SYSTEM TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORS IN NEED. THE HUB MARSHALS AND COORDINATES THE RESOURCES OF MULTIPLE FUNDING AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING OHF, TO PROVIDE THE BEST RESPONSE TO NEIGHBORS WHO EXPERIENCE SERIOUS DISRUPTION OR CHALLENGE IN THEIR DAILY LIFE. THE HUB REDUCES THE BARRIERS AND STIGMA OF SEEKING AND RECEIVING HELP. IT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY AND INDIVIDUAL HEALTH, RESILIENCE, AND CARING. THE HUB PROVIDES ACCESS TO A FULL RANGE OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN OUR REGION.