Humana Foundation Invests 5.4 Million in Eight Communities to Address Social Determinants of Health

Rhea-AI Summary

The Humana Foundation has announced a $5.4 million investment in eight Southeastern U.S. communities to tackle social determinants of health, aiming for health equity. This funding is part of its Strategic Community Investment Program, which focuses on enhancing financial asset security, food security, and employment opportunities. Key projects include funding for Kingsley House in New Orleans and food initiatives in Baton Rouge and Tampa. These strategic investments will be evaluated over three years, potentially allowing for continued funding based on success.

Positive

• Investment of $5.4 million in eight communities to address social determinants of health.
• Focus on measurable outcomes in financial asset security and food security.
• Potential for continued funding based on project success over three years.

Negative

• None.

The Humana Foundation, philanthropic arm of Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) for the past 40 years, is investing $5.4 million in eight communities across the southeastern United States to address social determinants of health on a local level, helping more people achieve health equity as part of its ongoing Strategic Community Investment Program.

Through partnerships with local organizations and community members, The Humana Foundation’s Strategic Community Investment Program creates measurable results in some of the most common social determinants of health, including post-secondary attainment and sustaining employment, social connectedness, financial asset security and food security. These investments are located in Humana ‘Bold Goal’ communities, places where Humana and The Humana Foundation work to improve the health of the people and communities Humana serves by making it easier for everyone to achieve their best health. “Our Strategic Community Investments holistically address social determinants of health at the systems- and community-level,” said Walter D. Woods, CEO of The Humana Foundation. “Real change takes time, and we are excited to see what our partners achieve in years two and three of these investments.”

The Humana Foundation’s continuing Strategic Community Investments for 2020, which were funded in early 2021, include the following:

New Orleans, LA: Kingsley House will receive $341,000 for its Career Pathways program, which creates greater financial asset security and post-secondary attainment and sustaining employment. Kingsley House will collaborate with DePaul Community Health Centers and Crescent City Family Services to help families access community resources.

Growing Local Food Collaborative will receive $600,000 to address financial asset security, post-secondary attainment and sustaining employment, and food security in New Orleans. Partners in this initiative include Liberty’s Kitchen, New Orleans Food Policy Action Council , Recirculating Farms Coalition, SPROUT NOLA, and Top Box Foods Louisiana.

Baton Rouge, La: Healthy BR will receive $675,000 to continue improving food security and social connectedness via the Geaux Get Healthy project. Funded by both The Humana Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation this project addresses food deserts by saturating these areas with numerous access points for purchasing fresh food at an affordable price. HOPE Ministries will receive $200,000 for its workforce development program, The Way to Work.

Broward County, Fla: Broward Community & Family Health Centers will receive $400,000 to screen their patients for food security and diet-related disease. Engaging Patients Impacting Care (EPIC) will also help people apply for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and help people access healthy foods via a produce prescription program.

Jacksonville, Fla: The University of Florida will receive continued funding of $600,000 for Health-Smart, a holistic health program that promotes social connection and food security, and mental and physical health among Black seniors in underserved Jacksonville communities. Empowering these communities to bring about policy changes for transportation justice is also a program priority. Major program partners include twenty Black churches that are Health-Smart sites, UF-Health – Jacksonville and its community health centers at Soutel and Durkeeville, Foodery Farms, Feeding North East Florida, the Jacksonville Urban League, and the local American Heart Association.

Knoxville, Tenn.: InterFaith Health Clinic, will receive $750,000 to continue its Truck2Table program, addressing social determinants of health and improving the health and quality of life of uninsured and underserved people by providing affordable access to healthy food, free nutrition education and access to social connectedness resources.

Louisville, Ky.: The Family Scholar House will receive $300,000 for its HEROES program, which helps families and senior citizens to address social isolation, food insecurity and lack of post-secondary educational attainment. Metro United Way will receive $300,000 to continue AcceLOUrate Savings financial literacy program, improving financial independence and providing families and residents experiencing economic distress with financial literacy coaching and other social services.

San Antonio: Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) will receive $150,000 to continue its Senior Planet San Antonio program, addressing social connectedness by engaging seniors through free access to internet-connected technology and training courses. The San Antonio Food Bank will receive $600,000 to continue its Healthy Options for the Elderly (HOPE) program, assisting seniors who screen positive for food security and social connectedness concerns with comprehensive services that stabilize their household and address prevalent health issues.

Tampa: Feeding Tampa Bay will receive $530,000 to continue work to transform affordable access to healthy food in partnership with local clinics and other social service providers via the Feeding Tampa Bay Food Pharmacy. Community Health Centers of Pineallas (CHCP) will continue as a key partner in this work with their onsite food pharmacy which increases access to healthy foods for the neighborhood surrounding the clinic.

Each organization that receives a Humana Foundation Strategic Community Investment has the opportunity to receive continued funding for up to three years based on the specific results achieved in their programs, as well as other resources, such as skilled volunteers and opportunities to share organization learnings.

About The Humana Foundation

The Humana Foundation was established in 1981 as the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc., one of the nation’s leading health and well-being companies. Located in Louisville, Ky., the Foundation seeks to co-create communities where leadership, culture, and systems work to improve and sustain positive health outcomes. For more information, visit humanafoundation.org.

Humana and The Humana Foundation are dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Our goal is to ensure that every business decision we make reflects our commitment to improving the health and well-being of our members, our employees, the communities we serve, and our planet.

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