Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Include Brighter Bites in Healthy Kids, Healthy Families Grant

Funding will support programs addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, wellness and social determinants of health across Texas

RICHARDSON, Texas, Dec. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — With a focus on targeting the socio-economic and social determinants of health impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) announced today the awarding of $1.8 million in Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® grants to 28 community-based organizations statewide.

The 2021 HKHF grantees were selected following an extensive evaluation process. And while the primary focus of the HKHF program has not changed, the COVID-19 pandemic and unrest associated with social justice initiatives in the Unites states reinforces BCBSTX’s focus on health equity and its core purpose to stand with its members and the communities in sickness and health.

“This year’s grant process was especially important given the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sheena Payne, BCBSTX’s director of Community Investments. “So, we are happy to award these grants that will support and nurture meaningful and transformational projects across Texas. Strategically, it is also important that we continue to aid community-based organizations that are directly supporting children and families who have been impacted by the health, economic, and social implications of this pandemic.”

However, the 2021 HKHF grant cycle called for an emphasis on programs that create measurable results to address the current public health pandemic and social factors exacerbating health inequalities and social determinants of health such as lack of housing, food deserts, education and jobs and mental health.

Towards that goal, the 2021 Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® grantees are:

• Baylor Health Care Systems Foundation: Addressing COVID-19, primary care access, and social determinants in southern Dallas
• Brighter Bites: Disease prevention and intervention
• Community Family Centers: Family and healthy kids, connections for health equality
• El Centro de Corazon: Improving the Health and Wellbeing of Underserved Children amid COVID-19
• Health Code: Democratizing wellness
• Southwestern Medical Foundation: Mental health and safe environment
• Family Service Association: Disease prevention and intervention
• Methodist Justice Ministry: Counseling services for indigent women and children escaping domestic abuse and neglect
• Bexar County Community Health Collaborative: Uses a synergistic approach to solving critical community health needs in the Bexar County region.
• Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (Project Tejas): Mental health and substance abuse
• Health Care for Special Populations: Disease prevention and intervention
• Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic: IBH mental health screening and treatment for children
• My Possibilities: Health and wellness program
• Network of Community Ministries: Mobilizing food delivery
• Refugee Services of North Texas: Mental health
• Santa Maria Hostel: Mental health and safe environment
• Shriners Hospital for Children: Navigating pediatric healthcare and COVID-19 pandemic
• The Salvation Army of North Texas: Disease prevention and intervention
• The Trust for Public Land: Disease prevention and intervention and safe environment
• University of Houston Foundation (Telehealth Pilot): Access to care, disease prevention and intervention
• University of Texas Foundation: A community information exchange to coordinate care to mitigate social determinants of health issues in the greater Houston area
• Urban Harvest: Creating pathways for food insecure families to access healthy food choices
• El Paso Children’s Hospital Foundation: Managing pediatric diabetes along the U.S.-Mexico Border
• MHP Salud: Healthy outcome, healthy living
• Shannon Medical Center: San Angelo Diabetes Coalition Initiative
• Texas CASA: Advocating for health equity for Texas children in foster care
• It’s Time Texas: Collaborative innovations for community health
• University of Texas Foundation – Sprouting Schools: A digital platform to support teachers delivering garden-based foods

Nine years ago, the HKHF program started as a three-year initiative designed to improve the health and wellness of at least one million children through community investments. The program was extended as BCBSTX’s ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of children and families in Texas. The HKHF program has impacted the lives of millions of Texas children and families through the more than $14 million in grants awarded by BCBSTX to community organizations statewide.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) – the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas – is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 80,000 physicians and healthcare practitioners, and 500 hospitals to serve more than 6 million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and New Mexico), the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.