Continuing our mission to connect, support, and inform efforts to improve the health of individuals and communities in Arizona, Vitalyst Health Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of our Spark Grants and System Change Grants. The grants will total $1M in funding to local organizations in Arizona.

The System Change Grants, worth $175,000 over three years each, were awarded to: Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Arizona Community Health Workers Association; Black Lives Matter Phoenix Metro; Central Arizona Shelter Services; and EAR Foundation of Arizona. These grants invest in efforts that positively address complex community health challenges and reduce structural and/or systemic gaps in health outcomes or opportunities.

The Spark Grant recipients receive $25,000 each and are as follows: Abolish Private Prisons; Greater Phoenix Economic Council; Parents of Addicted Loved Ones; Pastoral Care Associates; and Tooth B.U.D.D.S. These Spark Grants support collaborations in their journey to address systemic change, allowing partners to figure out solutions, which could then be further funded by a Systems Change Grant.

“We are excited to watch such a diverse group of organizations tackle real issues everyday Arizonans face and we expect to see real change throughout our state for those who are underrepresented,” said David Martinez, Vitalyst Health Foundation’s Director of Strategic Community Partnerships. “Organizations like these are doing work that often goes unnoticed, and we are grateful to have a chance to support them and their contributions.”

The grants will be used in a variety of projects. The Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is working to fill gaps in nine counties without child psychiatry resources. The Arizona Community Health Workers Association is embarking on statewide integration of health care providers and plans in both rural and urban areas.  Black Lives Matter Phoenix Metro is working on a pre-court youth restorative justice-based program as an alternative to incarceration.  Central Arizona Shelter Services is creating a new system to fill the gaps for seniors experiencing homelessness who may have dementia.  The EAR Foundation of Arizona seeks to improve the health of socially disadvantaged childbearing people and children in Arizona by building capacity for screening initiatives not currently required in Arizona.