Strengthening the Voice for Access – 2011 Grant Summaries

The grants range from $35,000 to $75,000 and this year they total $685,000.

Boston Center for Independent Living

$35,000

The Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL) will use funds to support advocacy on behalf of those living with disabilities.  BCIL is a frontline civil rights organization led by people with disabilities that advocates for supports and services that enhance the independence of people with disabilities.

The Disability Policy Consortium
$35,000
The Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) will use funds to unify the voice of disability groups as a leader in the Disability Advocates Advancing our Healthcare Rights (DAAHR) coalition, and in particular will focus the work of that coalition on the “dual eligibles” initiative, an effort to improve services for those dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare.  DPC will also address barriers to access such as underinsurance and advocate for the needs of those with disabilities who do not meet the federal definition of disabled.

Greater Boston Interfaith Organization

$75,000

The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization will use funds to develop and implement a strategic advocacy agenda focused on health care cost containment.  The goals of this effort will be to slow the growth of health care costs and to engage consumer participation in all levels of the cost and quality debate.

Health Care For All
$75,000
Health Care For All (HCFA) will use funds to build a movement of empowered people and organizations to create a health care system that is responsive to the needs of all, especially the most vulnerable.  HCFA will continue its advocacy in pursuit of three key objectives: ensuring maximum enrollment in existing coverage programs, preserving and strengthening public program eligibility, and identifying and representing consumer needs within delivery system reforms.

Health Law Advocates
$60,000
Health Law Advocates will use funds to provide legal representation to low-income residents experiencing difficulty accessing or paying for needed medical services.

The Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers 
$60,000
The Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers (MACHW) will use funds to strengthen the professional identity, foster leadership, and promote the integration of community health workers (CHWs) into the healthcare, public health, and human services workforce. MACHW will continue to organize and empower CHWs to participate in policy and advocacy, conduct direct advocacy to ensure that CHWs are integrated into guidelines for medical homes and accountable care organizations, and will participate in advocacy coalitions and campaigns focused on health care access and payment reform.

Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition  
$75,000
The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition will use funds to develop its organizing framework by engaging a statewide coalition to monitor the continued implementation of health reform and its effect on immigrant communities. The program will promote positive policy change for greater immigrant access to affordable health care and educate communities to advocate for access to health care coverage including defense of the Health Safety Net.

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute  
$75,000

The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute will use funds to advocate on the following key issues: ensuring affordable and accessible health care for vulnerable populations, improving the administration of public coverage programs, ensuring Affordable Care Act implementation benefits low-income and vulnerable populations, protecting the rights and enhancing services for those dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. The program will ensure elders have access to services to prevent or delay institutionalization and that consumers have a voice in health care reform.

Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
$60,000
Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers will use funds to serve as a key resource to its membership as cost containment and payment reform continue to reshape the health care environment. The League will conduct a multi-tiered advocacy strategy on a statewide level, including analyzing and disseminating policy information, engaging its members on key issues, and collaborating with other organizations and coalitions that share community health and primary health care goals.

Massachusetts Public Health Association

$75,000

The Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) will use funds to support collaborative efforts to integrate public health and prevention into health care payment reform discussions.  MPHA is a statewide membership organization that undertakes advocacy, education, coalition-building and organized action to improve the public's health.

Massachusetts Senior Action Council
$60,000
The Massachusetts Senior Action Council will use funds to enable the voice of seniors in pursuit of two key objectives.  First, to defend current health coverage which is essential for vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities to obtain needed services.  Second, for the development of a robust advocacy strategy for improving existing health care systems, restraining health care cost growth, and redressing current inequities caused by coverage gaps and variations in quality.