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We finished 2023 strong, poised to leverage the growing support of our local foundations and funders to continue, deepen, and grow our work. Check out just a few of our plans for 2024. 1. Love our community fact sheets? Get ready for more! Thanks to generous support from The Cleveland Foundation, Community Solutions will build our capacity to compile data and create estimates for locally-meaningful geographies. Translation: Cleveland Neighborhood and Ward Fact Sheets are coming later this year! They will include some indicators of health, social, and economic conditions never before available for neighborhoods. Check out the previous fact sheets and contact research fellow Alex Dorman to learn more.
Cleveland Neighborhood and Ward Fact Sheets are coming later this year!
2. Like so many organizations, Community Solutions continues on our journey to be more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Our Board made the ad hoc RDEI committee a permanent fixture and we’ve adopted a North Star statement and values meant to foster belonging. At this important inflection point, we are leveraging a grant from Saint Luke’s Foundation and the Cleveland Foundation to expand the Community Impact team. Check Community Solutions’ Racism is Public Health Crisis Toolkit, keep an eye out for information about the Policy Ambassadors program in Cleveland, and watch for more writing about sustainable solutions to address systemic racism and eliminate racial disparities.
3. An important policy win in 2023 was the inclusion of Medicaid coverage for doulas in the state budget. Community Solutions can now pivot to focus on other aspects of maternal and infant health, especially mental and behavioral health for pregnant people and new parents. . Reach out to policy director Tara Britton if you want to get involved. Our team looks forward to collaborating with advocates, providers, and state and local government, especially the Cuyahoga County Women’s Health Advisory Council. In addition to our Status of Women fact sheets, we will be partnering with The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio to examine what is driving the gender and racial wealth gap. Research director Emily Muttillo can share all the details.
We will partner with The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio to examine what is driving the gender and racial wealth gap.
4. The Status of Women fact sheets released last month are generating conversations across the state. Community Solution’s research team is examining specific indicators of the well-being of girls and teens and will release a companion report soon. We are also delighted to partner with The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio to examine what is driving the gender and racial wealth gap. Research director Emily Muttillo can share all the details.
Our research team is diving deeper into indicators of the well-being of girls and teens and will release a companion report soon.
5. More resources for community-based solutions to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities will begin to flow next year thanks to Ohio Department of Medicaid’s Next Generation Managed Care Plans. Community Solutions is partnering with Ohio Association of Health Plans to pilot an approach to assessing needs, engaging the community, and supporting data- and community-informed decisions to make these investments in better health.. Organizations in Cuyahoga County will have the opportunity to submit proposals soon. Medicaid policy fellow Brandy Davis can tell you more.
Community Solutions will help pilot an approach for assessing needs, engaging the community, and supporting data- and community-informed decisions about how to make these investments in better health.
