Health New England, in partnership with its Community Benefits Advisory Council, recently announced recipients of its inaugural Where Health Matters Grant Program. Four area non-profit organizations were awarded a $50,000 grant to implement programs that will improve the health and well-being of vulnerable population groups living in central and western Massachusetts.

Each eligible grant recipient supports one of four focus areas of the Where Health Matters Grant Program: chronic diseases, food insecurities, infant and maternal health, and mental health and substance use disorder. Grant recipients awarded included: Behavioral Health Network and Revitalize Community Development Corporation, both in Springfield; March of Dimes, in central Massachusetts, and Just Roots, Inc., in Franklin County.

“This important grant announcement is transformative for Health New England, significantly enhancing our Community Benefits Program. Our Where Health Matters Grant Program gives us the ability to positively influence health outcomes in four priority areas of health and social determinants of health,” said Jody Gross, Interim President and CEO of Health New England. “We are pleased to empower these four awarded non-profit organizations to make significant improvements in the health and wellbeing of specific vulnerable population groups living in the central and western Massachusetts communities we serve.”

Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, Health New England is a non-profit health plan serving members in Massachusetts and Connecticut. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Baystate Health, Health New England offers a range of health care plans in the commercial, Medicaid and Medicare markets. Visit www.healthnewengland.org for more information.