Grantee Stories

Point32Health Foundation works with communities to support, advocate and advance healthier lives for everyone.

MHAC presentation to community
Advocating for age- and dementia-friendly communities

Legislators learn how communities support healthy aging

The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative (MHAC), a statewide network advancing inclusive age- and dementia friendly communities, held a briefing for legislators and staff at the Massachusetts State House in March 2023. State Senator Patricia D. Jehlen and State Representative Thomas M. Stanley – co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs – hosted the event, which included an update on the age- and dementia friendly movement. Commissioner Emily Shea, who leads the City of Boston’s AgeStrong, presented alongside representatives from AARP Massachusetts, 2Life Communities, Mass. Coalition for the Homeless and Mass. Public Health Association.

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Ribbon cutting in front of van
Addressing barriers to health care access

The Northern New Hampshire Mobile Health Clinic hits the road

The New Hampshire Medical Society and North Country Health Consortium launched the Northern New Hampshire Mobile Health Clinic along with four partner hospitals: Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, Littleton Regional Healthcare in Littleton, Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook, and Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster. A custom van designed for clinical services will be available at locations across northern New Hampshire with the goal of improving health equity in Coos and Grafton counties. A $500,000 Foundation grant helped launch the mobile clinic. 

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Spotlighting Healthy Aging in Rhode Island Election

Rhode Island Gubernatorial Candidates Respond to Aging Policy Questions

At an August 3rd  forum organized by the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island and 17 cosponsoring organizations, Rhode Island’s six gubernatorial candidates responded to questions focused on older adult priorities and addressed their plans to fix the states’ fragmented long-term care continuum. Photo courtesy of the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island.

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Closing the SNAP gap

Streamlining Access to SNAP and MassHealth Benefits

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and the Massachusetts Senior Action Council worked in coalition with 150+ anti-poverty and public health organizations to simplify access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. As a result of this collaborative effort, Massachusetts residents applying for or renewing their MassHealth benefits online can now easily initiate a SNAP application. This is an important step forward in advancing healthy food access and health equity in the state. 

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LGBT elders

Healthy Aging in Massachusetts

Responding to LGBT Elders

Older LGBT people face unique challenges. With our support, Jamaica Plain-based Ethos can do more to change that paradigm.

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people playing patty-cake

Access to Healthy Food in Connecticut

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Garden Kits

At least that’s what the  executive director of Keney Park Sustainability Project did when COVID knocked out his volunteer program.
 

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latino elders

Healthy aging in New Hampshire

Reimagining Aging in the Granite State

A state-level commission will promote healthy aging in communities across New Hampshire. Three critical elements helped make it happen.

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The Massachusetts Senior Action Council group celebrating signature of legislation in office
Healthy Aging in Massachusetts

Building Economic Security

The Massachusetts Senior Action Council celebrated a signature legislative victory this year: Governor Baker’s 2020 budget eases health care costs for 40,000 older people with low incomes. Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Senior Action Council.
 

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Working with community to address food insecurity

Flourish at Thrive Food Pantry Opens its Doors to Worcester Residents

With support from the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, Project Bread and a Point32Health Foundation grant, Thrive Support and Advocacy opened “Flourish at Thrive,” a food pantry designed to serve people with developmental disabilities. Worcester Polytechnic Institute students helped create an accessible space to support community members with developmental disabilities who are four times as likely to have food allergies or dietary restrictions. The opening was featured on Spectrum News 1 and in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Photos courtesy of Thrive Support and Advocacy.

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Thrive Food Pantry Logo and Photo
Older Adult Behavioral Health Network in Massachusetts

A Look Back at an Impactful First Year

After the COVID-19 pandemic drew attention to the risks associated with untreated behavioral health conditions among older adults, the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH) launched the Older Adult Behavioral Health Network. Rooted in the grassroots advocacy of the Massachusetts Aging and Mental Health Coalition, the network works to improve the lives of older adults and support community living through advocacy, workforce development, and public education. Read about what they’ve accomplished in their first year.
 

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Two women wearing masks posing for photo with fresh vegetables outside
Access to Healthy Food in Connecticut

Addressing Health Inequities with Nutritious Food

Gather New Haven hasn’t let COVID-19 interfere with its mission of bettering health outcomes for Connecticut residents, implementing safe delivery/contact-less pickup and virtual nutrition education options for program participants. Photo courtesy of Gather New Haven.
 

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COVID Vaccine Education in Maine

Racial Disparities Too Familiar to Native Communities

What Wabanaki Public Health did to be sure Indigenous communities in Maine had information to make informed decisions about getting vaccinated, and had access to COVID-19 vaccines. Photo courtesy of Wabanaki Public Health.
 

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Woman wearing sunglasses and facemask looking into distance
Three people posing for picture with fresh vegetables
Access to Healthy Food in New Hampshire

Veggies From Heaven

Seacoast Eat Local, home of New Hampshire’s first (and Foundation-supported) mobile market —SAMM— has continued to provide healthy food to families in need but with a twist this season. Photo courtesy of Seacoast Eat Local.
 

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Healthy Aging in Massachusetts

Creating a Culture of Inclusion

How did Springfield, Mass., become the first city in the nation to apply for and receive three age-friendly designations? Three words: Time. Tenacity. And collaboration. Photo courtesy of Live Well Springfield.
 

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Three women and one man posing for picture holding up a document
To-go box filled with fresh fruit and vegetables
Access to Healthy Food in Massachusetts

A Sense of Community and Food to Go

Residents of an affordable-housing community in Northampton, Mass., received boxes containing beautiful local fruits and veggies from the farms of Western Massachusetts plus household essentials to help them stay safe and stay healthy throughout the pandemic. Photo courtesy of Grow Food Northampton.
 

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Access to healthy Food in Massachusetts

Hope Community Garden – a Roxbury Treasure

Residents of “Madison Village”, a vibrant affordable-housing community in Roxbury, Mass., enjoy expanded healthy food, cooking and garden programs. Photo courtesy of Madison Park Development Corporation. 
 

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Metal fence outside garden with a colorful block letter sign spelling out hope
Participants in an intergenerational program in Central Falls.
Healthy Aging in Rhode Island

Bridging generation gaps

Isolation can take its toll on older people—even affecting our health. In Central Falls, R.I., an intergenerational program works to change all that. Photo courtesy of LISC.
 

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