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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Janice B. Yost, EdD, The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, Inc., 446 Main Street, 20th floor, Worcester, MA 01608, 508-438-0009, jyost@hfcm.org

The American health care industry has undergone a significant transformation during the past twenty years as struggling non-profit health care providers sought out for-profit buyers to strengthen their market positions and recapitalize their businesses. The rate of conversion to for-profit health care increased significantly during the late 1990's, resulting in the formation of more than 90 “conversion foundations” to preserve the charitable assets accumulated by the non-profit health care organizations. Today, more than 165 of these health conversion foundations operate in 38 states and control the combined charitable assets of more than $16.4 billion.

Health philanthropies can be powerful partners for change. As mission-driven organizations, many health foundations actively seek partnerships with local organizations that share their vision of a healthier community and can offer leadership to systems change initiatives. Many health foundations fund health advocacy efforts and engage in advocacy at the state and federal level. Some foundations fund lobbying efforts on behalf of grantees or in partnership with other organizations to create health improvements. A smaller number of health philanthropies are directly lobbying for health status improvement through public policy, budget requests, and administrative changes. This presentation will include a case study of a health foundation engaged in advocacy and lobbying in partnership with a local coalition of non-profit organizations to impact state policies around early childhood mental health, and a discussion of the opportunities and challenges related to this work.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to

• Describe the role of health philanthropy in public health advocacy and policy change initiatives;
• Identify local opportunities for health philanthropies to partner with public health in policy advocacy initiatives;
• Articulate strategies for engaging health philanthropies in health policy advocacy initiatives.

Keywords: Advocacy, Funding

Related Web page: www.hfcm.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation